A Critical Review of Caste system in Hindu Religion

Hindu religion is one of the oldest religion of the world; around 4,000 years old history. It has survived many ups and downs during this long history. Within these 4000 years history, Hindu religion had set some great benchmarks related to spirituality, metaphysics, consciousness, meditation, energy, social order and mathematics.

Hindu religion was contemplating about consciousness, attaining spirituality, natural forces when western societies were busy in wandering forests and surviving. It was talking about metaphysics and extreme human mental capability when other civilizations did not even ponder these issues. So, Hindu religion introduced some mind boggling issues in its early years.

Though, one of the embedded characteristic of Hinduism is its “Caste system“. Mythologically, It is believed that 4 major castes (Sudhras, Vaishyas, Kshatriya and Bhrahman) were originated from different body parts of Lord Brahma ( Also known as the creator of the universe in Hindu religion). According to written texts; it is written that Brahmanas were created from the Navel, Kshatriya from from hands, Vaishya from thighs and Sudras from feet.

Again, these 4 major castes are subdivided into 36 sub castes (it is getting weird now). When you look at what body part they were created from , according to Hindu mythology; it can be clearly observed that it is not respectful to a group of people belonging to a particular caste. Logically, in any culture, comparing a group of people to feet indicates something inferior than another group, and automatically categorizes people with power and powerless. This self beneficial/Biased interpretation led Bhrahman control the progress of Hinduism for a long time and this can be seen/felt in the Hindu society nowadays.

Later 4 Castes were further subdivided into Sub castes. It is believed that categorization of work and skill was the main reason of this division into sub castes. It worked well for a long time too. You do what you are good at and others do what they are good at. In this way, society functions very well by helping each other. This was the main idea behind the division of people based on their skill and expertise (we might have seen this theory in many movies about the future, where we might have seen people having a strong division of work in society and on spacecraft). Someone good at making tools would do that job, similarly, someone good at leather work would do that, someone good at fighting would be deployed as soldier etc. This was only meant to divide work according to the work, people are expert with. It worked finely for a long time. Each group of people were working and helping each other to make the whole society function like a machine.

But, again people getting benefits and with power misinterpreted this division of work into division of class. Group of people closer to the executive system (accountant, service giver, law and order manager), judiciary (decision maker, negotiator) , Asset managers (temple priests, tax collectors) use this system for only their own benefit and growth. Soon, it became the tumor of Hindu culture.

People of one category of caste would not marry with the people of another category of caste. Society would search bride/groom of the similar category of caste, and if, any decides to break this religious code, they would be demoted to the lower caste category. For many, cultures, this might be shocking to comprehend where you cannot choose any person you love as your life partner. Scientifically also, it is the best decision to choose DNA from a larger pool. Choosing your life partner from a small pool of DNA would not let nature choose the best available/dominating genes to have better offspring. Repetition of same characters in same gene pool would only increase probability of genetic diseases and offspring with less dominating characteristics.

Additionally, Group of people working as potter, blacksmith, construction workers, cleaner, tailor, goldsmith, manual scavengers etc. were considered very low class and caste; also known as untouchables. Untouchables are not being touched by people of other castes/sub castes. Sadly, Hindu culture does not give an equal human value to this group of people. Still, hardline followers of Hindu culture strictly follow this mindset, where they believe it is against the Hindu colure to touch DALIT people, sounds weird and appalling. You might have heard/seen news of Dalit person beaten for touching temple, touching handpump of a upper caste family, sitting together with upper caste people etc. This has decreased the accessibility of people belonging to this caste category in education, resources, service, power centers ———-> which has led to a big gap in success, prosperity, wealth, happiness and advantages.

Some humiliating and inhumane examples of how lower caste people are being discriminated in the society……>>>

1. Not letting people of lower caste to sit next to hight caste.
2. Not ingesting anything touched by people of lower caste.
3. Not letting them touch anything which belongs to higher caste.
4. Not letting them to enter the temple without the permission of the temple priest. If they are allowed, asked them to sit below the level of those from higher caste.
5. Taunting them in the public all time to show them how much impure they are just being born in another caste.
6. Ostracizing them from any social event and prevent them from a leadership role in the society
7. There are many cases where the police system has discriminated against them when they visit the system to get help. Many cases of rape, violence against them are not registered and ignored. Sometimes, they are forced to be quiet against the discrimination.
8. All the dirty jobs of manual scavenging, cleaning toilets in government offices etc are considered the job of people from lower caste.
9. They are also kept as bonded labors to pay off the the debt taken generations ago.
10. Expecting them to build temples but hindering them from entering in temples or touch the sculptures.

Still a big proportion of a caste do not have full access to the system. Once you are deprived of access to good education, services; the vicious poverty cycle would not end easily. That is exactly what was happening in the society for a long time. This is the reason people belonging to a particular category of caste were always underprivileged/deprived/powerless/poor/under dominated/lacks voice in decision making process/Lacks representation in the local and regional political voice etc. Some countries decided to implement Special reservation/quota system to uplift this category of caste to achieve equity at the end. This special reservation/quota system still exists in those countries. Under this system, people belonging to specified caste category are given special privilege in selecting candidates for government jobs, political parties, education sector. Though, it is a good start, still people of this caste category needs a long way to reach an equity.

Summary: Calling spade a spade, Hindu religion is a beautiful religion, though implementation of basic ethics of the religion is not being done properly. Wrong interpretation by groups with vested interest and using it for self benefit had changed the simple division of work into whom people with powers would touch or not, whom people of upper caste would marry or not, whom shall have access to all the resources and systems etc. Be outspoken while being critical and love the positive things and call out negative ones.

A wonderful Truth ——— A kid already knows how to respect other human being with dignity and empathy by nature by birth, it is society who teaches that kid otherwise and make them discriminate other being because of their caste. Start change from yourself, your family and the effect of this would surely be seen in the society.

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