By Samrath Bhattacharya One could hypothesize that the poverty levels in India could be in relation to social structure. That hypothesis is correct to a certain degree. There is no hierarchal system of social structure standing in present day India, but its adverse long term effects are still present. The rigidity of the Caste system left people in no position to work for more. Occupations were set, class rules were strictly enforced, and there was no way to move upwards. What all of this means is that, reform in practice and beliefs followed a slower pace. Chart of Social Classes
Brahmin Priestly Class Study Vedas Perform rites and rituals Intermediary between god and man Temple priests and invoke Gods oh behalf of others Expected to show excellent behavior Meant to spend their lives in pursuit of divine knowledge and preservation of traditions
Kshatriyas Are the warrior class Ones who are in command (Kings) Protect the people, bestow gifts to Brahmins, offer sacrifices to gods, study the Vedas, dispense justice, and abstain from sensual pleasures King should not be despised even if he were an infant Authority should not be questioned unless ignored his duties in supporting and protecting the Brahmins Would take the role of a king. Responsibility if first to the people, and preservation of ideals. Cannot be questioned unless in pursuit of protecting the Brahmins.
Vaishyas Merchants and Peasants Tend to livestock Offer sacrifices Trade and lend money Some performance in rituals Cannot marry women of higher class Merchant and peasant classes. Traders and farmers. Can be part of some rituals.
Shudras Labor Class Cannot be a part of rituals or study the Vedas Cannot eat with members of upper class Cannot eat with members of upper class The labor class that work only to serve the upper classes. Cannot perform rituals. Cannot eat in company of upper classes and cannot marry their women.
A large percentage of the population was not considered part of the system. These were the Untouchables or Chandals.
Lived away from all people "impure ones" Did the most demeaning jobs ex. cleaning human waste Considered beyond the pale of the caste system
Caste in Relation to Poverty
The traditional Caste System was a rigid system of social stratification. It refers to a hierarchical ordering of society into different castes. People were locked into their place by birth, and there was no maneuvering up. People were born, married and died in the same caste. Rules were set forth, and the system was enforced by all. The caste system was closely associated with occupation. Each caste had a traditional occupation that was followed by those born into a caste. Caste levels, therefore, were disadvantageous to those of a lower caste. The quality of a job, and the quantity of money given for said job was in direct correlation with the caste level. The worst off were the lower castes and the untouchables (now called Dalits) who were denied an education and could only perform menial jobs.
The caste system was abolished in law after India became independent from British rule and a system of “reservation” in jobs and education was put into place to rectify the centuries of social exclusion faced by the lower castes and the untouchables. However, reform in practice and beliefs followed a slower pace. Many castes are still associated with an occupation, such as high-ranking Brahmans; middle-ranking farmer and artisan groups, such as potters, barbers, and carpenters; and very low-ranking "Untouchable" leatherworkers, butchers, launderers, and latrine cleaners, though there is a lot more social mobility across caste lines. There is still some correlation between ritual rank on the caste hierarchy and economic prosperity. Members of higher-ranking castes tend, on the whole, to be more prosperous than members of lower-ranking castes. Many lower-caste people live in conditions of great poverty and social disadvantage. Despite the policy of reservations or affirmative action, the cumulative effects of generations of exclusion make it difficult for lower caste individuals to compete with the upper caste members in education and in employment.
There are also regional differences in play with regard to caste rigidity and mobility. Urbanization was a factor in loosening the hold of the caste system over individual achievement and there are rural and urban differences in the strict correlation of caste with income and education. Similarly, there are regional differences too. For instance, the social reform movements and the system of “reservations” were more successful in the southern and western states of India and, as a whole; individuals belonging to the lower castes in these regions have had more access to education than those in many of the northern states.
The discrimination as a result of the caste system has diminished over the years. Today there is no recognition of caste differences in law. But to undo the debilitating effects of generations of social exclusion cannot be undone in a couple of years or even a couple of decades. Poverty is a state that directly affects the quality of life. Ensuring a quality education for all lower caste individuals is an important first step in ameliorating their poverty. Other steps include creating more employment opportunities for the poor and modernizing the agrarian sector. It also requires a more effective implementation of the policies of inclusion that are already in place.
One could hypothesize that the poverty levels in India could be in relation to social structure. That hypothesis is correct to a certain degree. There is no hierarchal system of social structure standing in present day India, but its adverse long term effects are still present. The rigidity of the Caste system left people in no position to work for more. Occupations were set, class rules were strictly enforced, and there was no way to move upwards. What all of this means is that, reform in practice and beliefs followed a slower pace.
Chart of Social Classes
Priestly Class
Study Vedas
Perform rites and rituals
Intermediary between god and man
Temple priests and invoke Gods oh behalf of others
Expected to show excellent behavior
Meant to spend their lives in pursuit of divine knowledge and preservation of traditions
Are the warrior class
Ones who are in command (Kings)
Protect the people, bestow gifts to Brahmins, offer sacrifices to gods, study the Vedas, dispense justice, and abstain from sensual pleasures
King should not be despised even if he were an infant
Authority should not be questioned unless ignored his duties in supporting and protecting the Brahmins
Would take the role of a king. Responsibility if first to the people, and preservation of ideals. Cannot be questioned unless in pursuit of protecting the Brahmins.
Merchants and Peasants
Tend to livestock
Offer sacrifices
Trade and lend money
Some performance in rituals
Cannot marry women of higher class
Merchant and peasant classes. Traders and farmers. Can be part of some rituals.
Labor Class
Cannot be a part of rituals or study the Vedas
Cannot eat with members of upper class
Cannot eat with members of upper class
The labor class that work only to serve the upper classes. Cannot perform rituals. Cannot eat in company of upper classes and cannot marry their women.
Lived away from all people "impure ones" Did the most demeaning jobs ex. cleaning human waste Considered beyond the pale of the caste system
Caste in Relation to Poverty
The traditional Caste System was a rigid system of social stratification. It refers to a hierarchical ordering of society into different castes. People were locked into their place by birth, and there was no maneuvering up. People were born, married and died in the same caste. Rules were set forth, and the system was enforced by all. The caste system was closely associated with occupation. Each caste had a traditional occupation that was followed by those born into a caste. Caste levels, therefore, were disadvantageous to those of a lower caste. The quality of a job, and the quantity of money given for said job was in direct correlation with the caste level. The worst off were the lower castes and the untouchables (now called Dalits) who were denied an education and could only perform menial jobs.
The caste system was abolished in law after India became independent from British rule and a system of “reservation” in jobs and education was put into place to rectify the centuries of social exclusion faced by the lower castes and the untouchables. However, reform in practice and beliefs followed a slower pace. Many castes are still associated with an occupation, such as high-ranking Brahmans; middle-ranking farmer and artisan groups, such as potters, barbers, and carpenters; and very low-ranking "Untouchable" leatherworkers, butchers, launderers, and latrine cleaners, though there is a lot more social mobility across caste lines. There is still some correlation between ritual rank on the caste hierarchy and economic prosperity. Members of higher-ranking castes tend, on the whole, to be more prosperous than members of lower-ranking castes. Many lower-caste people live in conditions of great poverty and social disadvantage. Despite the policy of reservations or affirmative action, the cumulative effects of generations of exclusion make it difficult for lower caste individuals to compete with the upper caste members in education and in employment.
There are also regional differences in play with regard to caste rigidity and mobility. Urbanization was a factor in loosening the hold of the caste system over individual achievement and there are rural and urban differences in the strict correlation of caste with income and education. Similarly, there are regional differences too. For instance, the social reform movements and the system of “reservations” were more successful in the southern and western states of India and, as a whole; individuals belonging to the lower castes in these regions have had more access to education than those in many of the northern states.
The discrimination as a result of the caste system has diminished over the years. Today there is no recognition of caste differences in law. But to undo the debilitating effects of generations of social exclusion cannot be undone in a couple of years or even a couple of decades. Poverty is a state that directly affects the quality of life. Ensuring a quality education for all lower caste individuals is an important first step in ameliorating their poverty. Other steps include creating more employment opportunities for the poor and modernizing the agrarian sector. It also requires a more effective implementation of the policies of inclusion that are already in place.