The Caste System

In India, you are defined from the day you are born until the day you die by the caste system. The most uncomplicated way to explain the caste system is that Indian castes are somewhat like American socio-economic classes were a hundred and fifty years ago.

The castes are top down, meaning that some people are considered intrinsically "better" than others. These people also tend to be richer. The top caste is the Brahmin caste, followed by the warrior caste, then the merchants, then the agriculturists and then the untouchables at the bottom. Up until recently the caste system sort of ensured that society functioned properly. The Brahmins are something like Hindu priests so they would perform religious duties for the people in return for the services that each of the other castes performed- the warriors offered protection to the villages, the untouchables were stuck with basic service jobs. But economically it ensured that everyone ate, lived in security and pleased the gods (I guess? This is all really weird to me too).


Today, the caste system is as strong as ever, especially in rural areas. When I was in the mountains, I hiked to a few of the more remote villages with Mumtha (who is educated and thinks the caste system is ridiculous) and two people who work for her organization. One was a woman in a higher caste (Lela) and the other was an untouchable (Moorie). Lela wouldn't speak to Moorie and he always walked about 15 feet behind us. People of lower castes aren't allowed into the houses of people of higher castes (something I saw firsthand) and people of higher castes won't eat with or touch untouchables.

Obviously, with all those pesky human and civil rights movements in the last 50 or so years, a system like that makes India look pretty bad in the international community. The Indians know that and they have officially abolished the caste system. There are reserved seats for untouchables in parliament and to treat anyone of an inferior caste unfairly is illegal. Moorie could take Lela and others in his village to court for treating him differently, but I think its pretty safe to say that lawyer's fees are beyond his means and he wouldn't risk the social retribution that legal action would cause for his family.

To an outsider, of course, the whole system is just retarded. To me it seems like, without having major physical or religious differences to use as an excuse to mistreat each other like they do in other parts of the world, Indians have just invented their own differences. But, its their country and culture, not mine so I kept my opinions to myself. Then at dinner a couple nights ago the topic came up. It sounded like an American discussion on civil rights in the 1960s or on immigration issues today. Indians know that changing their system would mean social and, in more rural places, economic upheaval. Even so, its something they're working on. Like all human rights movements it will take time and a lot of work. But I think what both Americans and Indians are learning is that there can't be second class citizens (and there definitely can't be 5th class citizens or non-citizens). To make a country successful and to make progress possible, equality is right up there with democracy on the list of important ingredients.

Oh and on a completely side note, here is a great cartoon of Hilary trying to make Lord Shiva and a Chinese dragon get along. Shiva is known as the destroyer (he accidentally killed his own son) and I could be wrong, but I don't think dragons are known for their friendliness. Good luck, Mrs. Clinton.


Things I have learned about India: All Indian movies have singing and dancing in them. And most of them also have pretty bad acting and not much of a plot.

Things I have yet to learn about India: Why they don't do something about the cow problem. Cows are sacred, so no body kills them. Once a cow stops producing milk, if the family can't afford to feed it they sort of just set it free and it wanders around on the street. Traffic jams are frequently caused by cows who have decided to take naps in the middle of three lane streets.