The prosperous higher ranking groups exploit the poor low-ranking groups.Geographical segregations: the upper castes living in the centre, lower castes living in the periphery.Social connections: upper castes were restricted to contact the lower castes.The caste system rules the interaction between members of society, especially from different positions in the hierarchy. In pre-Independence time the poor could advance only by crossing Jätis, never by crossing Varnas. These groups rise and fall on the social scale, old Jätis die out, new ones are formed. These castes are easier to cross now, though strict measures such as marital restrictions of medieval India are hard to leave behind. There are thousands of Jätis or communities based on birth rights or occupation. Some sociologists consider job diversification as a way to create smaller castes, Jätis within the larger groups of Varna. The Shudras have no initiation, they are born only once. The three upper castes are initiated at the end of puberty and this action is considered to be their second birth. In some languages they are also called pariahs from the Tamil word for drummer, but they detest this name claiming it has negative connotation. Those who do not fit into any category are the tribal people and the untouchables (Dalit). They were reinforced by the British colonisation of India, which at the outset attributed particular assignments within the colonial administration to certain social classes. The present castes are result of social changes starting in the second half of the 19th century. The birth/occupational castes are commonly linked with social classes, too. There is an understanding that in Indian society there have been castes based on social classes (from the ancient Vedic society, referred to as Varna) or on birth (that usually means hereditary occupations or professions, referred to as Jäti). Inequality determined by social class or birth still exists in India.

The word “caste” originates from the Portuguese casta meaning “race, lineage, breed”. Many sociologists agree that it is almost impossible to define the caste system clearly because the phenomenon is highly complex.īasically, the caste system is based on historic religious origins and is influenced by social and economic developments from colonial times. India’s caste system divides society in the country into several ranked groups.

Indian caste system