CasteCaste

Hindus are born into a casteHindus are born into a caste

People cannot change castes People cannot change castes unless moving down because unless moving down because of a dharma violation of a dharma violation

Castes Castes represent represent spiritual spiritual purity purity

Castes often determines your Castes often determines your occupation occupation

Impact of caste.Impact of caste.Marriage within your sub-casteMarriage within your sub-casteFood restrictions Food restrictions Lack of incentive to improveLack of incentive to improveSense of superiority & Sense of superiority & inferiorityinferiorityStrong desire to follow the Strong desire to follow the rules rules

Caste is Caste is weakening in weakening in the cities the cities

- - Do not know all people Do not know all people - Jobs are changing (i.e. factories)- Jobs are changing (i.e. factories)- People are gaining more - People are gaining more education education - Transportation allows people to - Transportation allows people to live further away from where they live further away from where they workwork- Restaurants causes people to eat - Restaurants causes people to eat food beyond what they traditionally food beyond what they traditionally eateat

Why people like casteWhy people like casteEnds competition- no need to Ends competition- no need to better self better self Comfortable to know place Comfortable to know place Carries on arts and crafts—Carries on arts and crafts—skilled people stay where they skilled people stay where they were were Marriage and jobs are set- big Marriage and jobs are set- big decisions of the life are easy. decisions of the life are easy.

Caste rules are spelled out in Caste rules are spelled out in the Code of Manu (2000 B.C.E.)the Code of Manu (2000 B.C.E.)It explains proper way to wash, It explains proper way to wash, brush teeth, dress, sit, recline.brush teeth, dress, sit, recline.Also specifies laws of Also specifies laws of inheritance, religious customs, inheritance, religious customs, rituals foods and ways of rituals foods and ways of purification.purification.

Castes have Castes have caused caused tension in tension in the past the past

UntouchablesUntouchables -- also called Dalits -- also called Dalitslowest castelowest casteoutcastsoutcastsdarker skin color; darker skin color; handle the deceased, street handle the deceased, street sweepers, beggarssweepers, beggarsmust walk on the other side of the must walk on the other side of the road and not let their shadow fall road and not let their shadow fall on a Brahman; cannot take water on a Brahman; cannot take water from public wells.from public wells.

Brahman – Priests 6%

Kshatryas – Warriors & rulers 10%

Vaisyas – Skilled traders, merchants, & minor officials 20%

Sudras – unskilled workers 50%

Pariahs – Dalits, “untouchables,” handle the deceased, street sweepers, beggars 15%