A MAN-MADE HIERARCHY

Caste in South Asia represents a system of rigid, man-made hierarchical system, with four main groups ranked by birth and occupation. In India, for example, caste derives its legitimacy from Hindu scripture and doctrine. Within each of these broad groups, there are hundreds of sub-castes defined by occupation, dialect, geography and more.  On the very top are the Brahmins, known to have been priests, legislators and keepers of knowledge. Below them in status are the Kshatriyas, who were known to be kings and warriors. They are followed by the Vaishyas, traditionally known as the business or merchant class. These three classes are known as the upper castes.

At the bottom of the hierarchy are the Shudras, known to have been laborers and peasants.

Excluded from the four-fold caste hierarchy, but still within the caste infrastructure, the Dalits (also called Untouchables or the Scheduled Tribes), belong to the lowest stratum of castes in South Asia. Today, Dalit, Adivasi (the indigenous groups in South Asia) and Shudra castes are collectively referred to as the Bahujan community.

A MAN-MADE HIERARCHY

Caste in South Asia represents a system of rigid, man-made hierarchical system, with four main groups ranked by birth and occupation. In India, for example, caste derives its legitimacy from Hindu scripture and doctrine. Within each of these broad groups, there are hundreds of sub-castes defined by occupation, dialect, geography and more.  On the very top are the Brahmins, known to have been priests, legislators and keepers of knowledge. Below them in status are the Kshatriyas, who were known to be kings and warriors. They are followed by the Vaishyas, traditionally known as the business or merchant class. These three classes are known as the upper castes.

At the bottom of the hierarchy are the Shudras, known to have been laborers and peasants.

Excluded from the four-fold caste hierarchy, but still within the caste infrastructure, the Dalits (also called Untouchables or the Scheduled Tribes), belong to the lowest stratum of castes in South Asia. Today, Dalit, Adivasi (the indigenous groups in South Asia) and Shudra castes are collectively referred to as the Bahujan community.

“​​At the top of the hierarchy were the Brahmins who were mainly teachers and intellectuals and are believed to have come from Brahma’s head. Then came the Kshatriyas, or the warriors and rulers, supposedly from his arms. The third slot went to the Vaishyas, or the traders, who were created from his thighs. At the bottom of the heap were the Shudras, who came from Brahma’s feet and did all the menial jobs. Outside of this Hindu caste system were the achhoots — the Dalits or the Untouchables.” — BBC, “What is India’s Caste System?”

Where one is located in this caste hierarchy determines one’s access to public resources and opportunities. From basic needs such as water, housing and education to earned opportunities from employment such as land ownership and wealth-building, caste systems control how a person is positioned in their community and even their ability to have social interaction with others outside of and within their caste. Attempts to step outside the boundaries of the caste hierarchy are met with threats of social ostracism, boycotts and violence.

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar points to some specific manifestations of expectations within a caste-based social hierarchy in Indian society wherein, “the Untouchable was not allowed to use the public streets if a Hindu was coming along, lest he should pollute the Hindu by his shadow. The Untouchable was required to have a black thread either on his wrist or around his neck, as a sign or a mark to prevent the Hindus from getting themselves polluted by his touch by mistake. In Poona, the capital of Peshwa, the Untouchable was required to carry, strung from his waist, a broom to sweep away from behind himself the dust he trod on, lest a Hindu walking on the same dust should be polluted.”

The place in which one is located in this caste hierarchy determines one’s access to public resources and opportunities. From basic needs such as water, housing and education to opportunities and employment, land ownership and wealth-building, caste systems control how a person is positioned in their community as well as their ability to have social interaction with others outside of and within their caste. Attempts to step outside the boundaries of the caste hierarchy are met with threats of social ostracism, boycotts and violence.

Dalit icon and activist Dr. B.R. Ambedkar explains the plights of those in lower castes as, “the Untouchables were not allowed to use the public streets if a Hindu was coming along, lest he should pollute the Hindu by his shadow. The Untouchable was required to have a black thread either on his wrist or around his neck, as a sign or a mark to prevent the Hindus from getting themselves polluted by his touch by mistake. In Poona, the capital of Peshwa, the Untouchable was required to carry, strung from his waist, a broom to sweep away from behind himself the dust he trod on, lest a Hindu walking on the same dust should be polluted.”