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How did the caste system affect India
The caste system has spread throughout India and other parts of South Asia, among which the Varna system in ancient India is called representative. Caste is called “varna” in Sanskrit, which translates to color and quality.
Therefore, the caste system is also known as the Varna system.
From about 900 BC to 700 BC, the Varna system was formally formed. It is known as the strictest hierarchy in ancient society, and it reflects the cosmology, religion and interpersonal relationships of ancient India.
Ancient Indians divided the Varna system into four castes: Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Sudra.
The first-class Brahmins are the highest caste in the entire Indian society , serving as priests, fortune-telling and divine power;
The second-class Kshatriya is a military aristocrat and holds the military administrative power of the country;
The third-class Vaishyas are the most common laborers in Indian society , engaged in agriculture, commerce and handicrafts. They not only have to pay taxes to support Brahmins and Kshatriyas who do not engage in any production, but also have no political freedom;
Most of the fourth-class Sudras were conquered indigenous peoples , belonging to non-Aryans. They were engaged in farming, animal husbandry, fishing, hunting, and all other occupations that were considered lowly at that time. They had no personal freedom and were real slaves.
Intermarriage is strictly prohibited among the four castes, and occupations are hereditary. In addition to these four castes, there is another type of untouchable, also known as untouchables. The strict hierarchical system is often implemented and promulgated in the form of a code, known as the “Manu Code”. This code has clear regulations on the clothing, food, housing and transportation of all levels to protect the vital interests of the two senior castes, Brahmins and Kshatriyas.
Although India has abolished the caste system in the constitution and the law stipulates that everyone is equal, the caste system still has a great influence on Indian society, especially in backward areas. Brahmins, a senior caste who make up less than four percent of the country’s total, hold nearly half of the seats in Congress.
The effect of the caste system on India
Beneficial influence
Hinduism with the caste system as its core feature flourished in India, while Buddhism, which advocated equality of all living beings, declined. It can be seen that the caste system has played an important role in the historical development of India. The simplest thing is the sense of fixation brought about by social stratification. Living according to one’s own role is very useful for managers, and for those living in the system, following the rules can bring a sense of security. #p#Subtitle#e#
Negative Effects
1. The caste system affects the process of political democratization in India
The traditional caste factor still plays a pivotal role in India today. When the general election is approaching, since the vast majority of India’s population is peasants, rural votes are crucial for each political party, and peasants often rely on their caste awareness when voting, and often vote for candidates representing their own caste interests. people.
Therefore, each party must carefully study the caste forces in each region before the general election, and choose a person with prestige in the local dominant caste as a candidate.
As a result of this, on the one hand, the people who are pushed as candidates are not necessarily elites in the party; on the other hand, once these people enter the political circle, their actions in the future will inevitably consider the interests of the caste community they are elected to, so that Indian politics has a strong caste color.
2. The caste system affects economic development
As mentioned above, the caste system divides the economy into different social groups, and their contact with each other is affected. Some people have serious “casteism” thoughts, and most of them consider the interests of their own castes. Thinking about the problem, doing things from the interests of the caste, only being loyal to the caste, lacking the spirit of mutual assistance among the compatriots of the nation, which is not conducive to the development of the entire economy.
In addition, each person’s occupation is determined by birth, passed down from generation to generation, and is not easy to change. No matter whether a person is interested in a certain occupation or not, whether the job is suitable or not, he must be forced to do it. In this way, some people can get a good job, get a good job, and enjoy a good salary without working hard.
This produces or encourages some people’s lazy thinking and lack of fighting spirit; while others, that is, people of lower castes, can only suffer and resign, believing that their destiny is destined and cannot be changed. This limits and shackles their creative spirit and enthusiasm.
3. Negative influence on cultural, educational and health undertakings
Culture, education and health are of great significance to the future of a country and a nation. There are not only various caste cultural associations in various parts of India, but also many caste universities, and even in some universities, each department is controlled by different castes.
The caste endogamy system implemented by the caste system makes the range of Indian youths very narrow for mate selection, resulting in the prevalence of consanguineous marriages in rural areas, resulting in a large number of deformed children, which greatly affects the quality of the Indian population.
The prevalence of child marriage affects the normal development of children, so many people die prematurely, which is one of the reasons for the shorter average life expectancy of Indians and more child widows.
