Caste

stratification or class structure, is an often times a heavily debated issue that has existed since immemorial. Nowhere is this argument more heavily debated than in Africa and Asia, more specifically the countries of India, Tibet and South Africa. India’s caste system as well as South Africa’s apartheid are two perfect examples of social stratification that, although outlawed by their constitutions, still persist even today in some form or another. The so called “Sinicization of Tibet” is…

torturer’s daughter, who happened to be of a higher caste. “The local police knew of the whereabouts of the Dalit family, but they did nothing because the rapists” came from a higher caste family (Mayell n.pag.). Even with decades of struggle to end discrimination, India today continue to face these problems. Historically within India, the main ruling force for distinguishing people’s class, religion, region, and language has been the Indian Caste System. Although all societies have many forms…

The Hindu Caste System, originally brought by the Aryans, defined the Ancient Indian people’s lives. This system defined the people’s lives because their caste was their job forever. They were born into their role and could not interact with anyone outside of their caste. This system practically controlled the Indians’ lives. It was separated into four classes, with a group at the bottom not considered in the system. The four castes in Ancient India considered in the system were Brahmins,…

The Indian caste system has played a major role in the lives of Indians and the treatment of each other, even though it is now outlawed. This is shown in the novel Climbing The Stairs. The caste system has divided the people, by job, status and income, but there have been recent changes to modify the system. The caste system originated over 2,000 years ago and has deeply influenced the Indian culture. The caste system began with four main groups, the Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and…

The Indian Caste system was originally developed by the Aryans, when they had first invaded India. It was the Aryans who put themselves above the people already living in India, and made themselves at the highest Varna. The Aryans believed that they were superior because of the color of their skin. Those different Varnas included: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras, and the Untouchables, who were considered far below the rest of the caste system. Since in the Hindu faith cleanliness is seen…

people are born into. Most people today have differing opinions on the ethnicity of India’s caste system and some wonder how such a thing could still exist. There are reasons why India’s caste system has been around for more than three thousand years. The caste system in modern day however does differ from the caste system from the past. India’s caste system is comprised of four major parts. The names of these castes in order of superiority are Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras. When a…

The caste system was created during the early Aryan Society. This was between the times of 2800 to 1800 B.C.E. A few of the reasons why the caste system was created was so that people of all different virtues could make spiritual improvements and also economic improvements. There were four groups in the caste system. These groups were as follows: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and the Shudras. Those who were not included in the caste system were called the outcast groups. Their condition in…

Even though the caste system was outlawed nearly fifty years ago, it still finds a role in today’s Indian society. Socially, caste is a thing of the past. It’s not acknowledged in casual situations, but that does not mean it has disappeared completely. Two factors major factors are still keeping the caste system relevant in society: human nature to associate with a group and the modern democratic system’s emphasis on group representation. As individuals, we find strength in numbers.…

female, rural and the lower caste students. This has changed student demographics in academic disciplines. Due to diverse students’ group on college campuses, the higher education institutions are facing diversity, social justice and discrimination issues. Caste-based discrimination is one of the issues which is pervasive across the institutions in India (Neelakandan & Patil, 2012; Nambissan, 2006 & 2009; Patwardhan & Palshikar, 1992; Desai & Kulkarni, 2008). The lower caste students have been…

When a person reads or hears the word “caste,” the social order in India is what typically comes to mind, not America. From the Brahmins at the top to the untouchables at the bottom rung, this caste system governed social interactions in India until the 1950s. Much as discrimination based on caste has been illegal in India for over half of a century, discrimination based on race has been illegal in the United States of over half a century, as well. Michelle Alexander posits, in her book The New…