"of endogamous, hereditary Indian social groups they encountered upon their arrival in India in 1498, as a direct extension of the concept of ‘casta’ in contemporary Portugal. The use of the spelling ""caste"", with this latter meaning, is first attested in English in 1613. Modern India's caste system is based on the social groupings called ""jāti"" and the theoretical ""varna"". The system of ""varnas"" appears in Hindu texts dating back to 1000 BCE and envisages the society divided into four classes: Brahmins (scholars and yajna priests), Kshatriyas (warriors and nobles), Vaishyas (farmers, merchants, and artisans) and Shudras (laborers/service providers). The"
"caste of people considered above the Brahmins were the Kshatriyas belonging to royal and noble families. Not all Kshatriyas were considered upper caste and not all upper caste people were Kshatriyas. By the 9th century, kings from all the four castes had at one time or another occupied the highest seat in the monarchical system in Hindu India. Admitting Kshatriyas to Vedic schools along with Brahmins was common, although children of the Vaishya and Shudra castes were not allowed in these schools. Jains took up martial careers and landownership by people of all castes is recorded in inscriptions The Shudras"
"social system which translates to ""types"" or ""order"". In olden times, the castes which were considered high in the Hindu caste hierarchy i.e. Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas, Shudras. During the British Raj, some methods for upliftment of these lower castes were introduced by the British, progressive thinkers and Hindu reformers. These included reservations in the legislature and in government jobs. After independence, the Indian constitution introduced provisions for reservations for the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (SC/ST) in government institutions, to give a fair representation to the weakest sections of society i.e. Dalits and Adivasis. 22.5% of the seats (SC- 15%,"
"and born village administrators. Mudiraja Muthuraja Mutharacha In the feudal Hindu society, the Kshatriyas used to occupy the 2nd top slot in the hierarchy of four caste groups. As per the definition of MANU, who was believed to be the architect of caste codification of the Hindu society, it was divided into four major caste groups i.e. (i) Brahmana, (ii) Kshatriya, (iii) Vaishya and (iv) Shudra. (ii). The Kshatriyas: These were the people of warrior class in the society and considered to be the hands and shoulders of the society. They were the people, who had the basic instinctive warrior"
"cent of Buddhists, one-third of Sikhs, and one-third of Christians in India belonged to Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes. Ambedkar said that untouchability came into Indian society around 400 AD, due to the struggle for supremacy between Buddhism and Brahmanism (an ancient term for Brahmanical Hinduism). Some Hindu priests befriended Dalits and were demoted to low-caste ranks. Eknath, another excommunicated Brahmin, fought for the rights of untouchables during the Bhakti period. Historical examples of Dalit priests include Chokhamela in the 14th century, who was India's first recorded Dalit poet. Raidas (Ravidass), born into a family of cobblers, is considered a"
"culture. By the late 19th-century, the caste system of Kerala had evolved to be the most complex to be found anywhere in India. There were over 500 groups represented in an elaborate structure of relationships and the concept of ritual pollution extended not merely to untouchability but even further, to unapproachability. The system was gradually reformed to some degree, with one of those reformers, Swami Vivekananda, having observed that it represented a ""mad house"" of castes. The usual four-tier Hindu caste system, involving the ""varnas"" of ""Brahmin"" (priest), ""Kshatriya"" (warrior), ""Vaishya"" (business person, involved in trading, entrepreneurship and finance) and"
"guilds, communities and castes emerged. The guild was one of the most significant institutions of south India and merchants organised themselves into guilds. The best known of these were the Manigramam and Ayyavole guilds though other guilds such as Anjuvannam and Valanjiyar were also in existence. The farmers occupied one of the highest positions in society. These were the Vellalar community who formed the nobility or the landed aristocracy of the country and who were economically a powerful group. The Vellalar community was the dominant secular aristocratic caste under the Chola rulers, providing the courtiers, most of the army officers,"
"Brahmins, CKPs and Saraswat Brahmins were the only communities that had a system of higher education for males. Education of all other castes and communities was very limited and consisted of listening to stories from religious texts like the Puranas or to Kirtans. Indian sociologist Sharmila Rege writes that the ""caste composition of the emerging intelligentsia"" in the British rule indicated the dominance of upper castes. For example, from 1827 to 1848, in the Elphiston institute of Bombay the upper classes such as the Saraswat Brahmins, Prabhus (CKP and Pathare), Brahmins and Parsis formed majority of the students where as"
"always be ranked lower than the Kulins. Kulin Kayastha Kulin Kayasthas (কুলীন কায়স্থ) are a sub-caste of the Kayastha caste in Bengal, India. They are also known as the Kulina Kayasthas. The Kayasthas are regarded in Bengal, along with the Brahmins, as being the ""highest Hindu castes"". The Bengali Kayasthas are subdivided into numerous clans in that region, of which the ""Kulin"" is a high-ranking example. The social and religious patterns of Bengal had historically been distinctively different from those in the orthodox Hindu heartland of North India and this impacted on how the caste system developed there. Bengal, being"
"Vajracharyas and Shakyas ( who are collectively called ""Bañdā"" or ""Baré"") were provided with the highest position. They were followed by the Buddhist lay patron caste of Urāy, or Upasakas, who were most typically involved in trade and commerce. Therefore, the Hindu Rajopadhyaya Brahmins and Buddhist Vajracharyas occupy the highest position in Newar society. This is followed by the Hindu Kshatriya nobility (Chatharīya Srēṣṭha) and the Vaishya merchant and traders castes. The Newar ""varna"" logic stratifies the Baré, the Urāy, Hindu Tamot (Tamrakar) and the Pāncthariya Srēṣṭha as the core Vaishya (alternatively Baiśya) of Newars who are highly specialized in"
"Indian caste system) named Yayati. Hypergamy Hypergamy (colloquially referred to as ""marrying up"" or ""gold-digging"") is a term used in social science for the act or practice of a person marrying a spouse of higher caste or social status than themselves. The antonym ""hypogamy"" refers to the inverse: marrying a person of lower social class or status (colloquially ""marrying down""). Both terms were coined in India in the 19th century while translating classical Hindu law books, which used the Sanskrit terms ""anuloma"" and ""pratiloma"", respectively, for the two concepts. Forms of hypergamy have been practiced throughout history, including in India,"
"term coined in Bengal for the 'Gentry' or 'respectable people'- based on refined culture, prestige, education etc. The last census of the British Raj in India (1931) classified them as an 'upper caste' i.e. Dwija and the final British Raj law case involving their varna in 1926 placed them into the Kashtriya varna. According to W.Rowe's account (that later scholars disagreed with), during the British Raj era, certain law cases led to courts classifying Kayasthas as shudras, based largely upon the theories of Herbert Hope Risley who had conducted extensive studies on castes and tribes of the Bengal Presidency. According"
"the Khalpa, who wanted to be known as ""Rohit"", and the Bhangi's desire to be known as ""Rishi"", as well as the vankar claim to ""Mahyavanshi"" status. Of these, only the Mahyavanshi claim was successful in gaining official recognition from the British Raj administration. This success was limited to a part of the community in South Gujarat. Dhedh Dhedh (also Dhed, Dhedha or Dhedhas) are a Scheduled Caste of India. Historically, certain upper caste communities have considered them to be an untouchable group, outside the Hindu ritual ranking system known as varna. The Dhedh community too observes untouchability in relationships"
"Kayasthas has been a subject of debate. According to some accounts, they are a literate and educated class of Kshatriyas, and they have been referred to as a twice-born caste. In Bengal, Bengali Kayastha, alongside Brahmins, have been described as the ""highest Hindu castes"". After the Muslim conquest of India, Bengali Kayasthas absorbed remnants of Bengal's old Hindu ruling dynasties - including the Sena, Pala, Chandra, and Varman - and, in this way, became the region's surrogate Kshatriya or ""warrior"" class. During the British rule, the Bengali Kayasthas, along with the Bengali Brahmins and Baidyas, were considered as ""Bhadralok"", a"
"Kulin Kayastha Kulin Kayasthas (কুলীন কায়স্থ) are a sub-caste of the Kayastha caste in Bengal, India. They are also known as the Kulina Kayasthas. The Kayasthas are regarded in Bengal, along with the Brahmins, as being the ""highest Hindu castes"". The Bengali Kayasthas are subdivided into numerous clans in that region, of which the ""Kulin"" is a high-ranking example. The social and religious patterns of Bengal had historically been distinctively different from those in the orthodox Hindu heartland of North India and this impacted on how the caste system developed there. Bengal, being located east of the traditional Aryavarta region"
"upon the Guru Granth Sahib in 1708 upon the death of Guru Gobind Singh. By the 19th century Bhat was the name of a caste or ""jati"" within the Indian tradition of social classes, each with its own occupation. Even though Sikhism itself does not support separation by caste, the social system meant that the Bhat followed a hereditary profession of missionaries, bards,scribes, poets and genealogists while some also foretold the future, if they were considered to have clairvoyant or astrological ability's, most of which were from a Brahmin heritage, eventually becoming salesman due to economic change however it is"
"up in India is prevalent due to caste-based class stratification. The women from the higher castes were not allowed to marry men from lower castes. This concept, cited in the Vedas as the Anuloma, was justified as the mechanism to keep the Hindu ideological equivalent of the gene pool from degrading. The opposite of the Anuloma, called the Pratiloma, was not allowed in the ancient Indian society. However, the Vedas cite an example where one such exception was allowed: when the daughter of Sage Shukracharya, Devayani was allowed to marry a Kshatriya king (lower caste compared to Brahmanas in the"
"Baidya Baidya or Vaidya () is a Hindu caste community of Bengal. The Baidyas have generally claimed Brahmin status, but some have been associated with the Ambashtha caste or sub-caste. In the pre-colonial era of Bengal, Baidyas were regarded as the highest Hindu castes along with Brahmins and Kayasthas. Historian Bijay Chandra Mazumdar suggests that the Baidyas owe their origin to the Vellala Vaidyas, known for their military prowess in Southern India, who started functioning as Brahmins some time earlier than the 10th century CE, and originally got the designation 'Vaidya' on account of their knowledge and study of the"
"terms of two peoples' cultural backgrounds and political identities. The story is set in the caste society of India, at a time when members of the Untouchable Paravan or Paryan caste were not permitted to touch members of higher castes or enter their houses. The Untouchables were considered polluted beings. They had the lowliest jobs and lived in subhuman conditions. In India, the caste system was considered a way to organize society. Roy's book shows how terribly cruel such a system can be. Along with the caste system, readers see an economic class struggle. The Ipes are considered upper class."
"that the Hindu caste system was widespread. Chronicles mention more castes than the four basic castes in the Hindu social system known today, some as many as seven castes. One traveller's account mentions sixteen castes including the four basic castes of Brahmins, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Chandalas. One caste known as ""Zakaya"" or ""Lahud"" consisted of people belonging to communities specialising in dance and acrobatics. Intercaste marriages were uncommon except between highly placed Kshatriya girls and Brahmin boys. People belonging to such professions as sailing, hunting, weaving, cobblery, basket making and fishing were all accommodated into castes or subcastes. The ""Antyajas"""
"with Brahmins. These three castes held major landholding and control over education and major professions. The terms ""Baidya"" and ""Vaidya"" also literally mean a physician in the Bengali and Sanskrit languages. Baidya Baidya or Vaidya () is a Hindu caste community of Bengal. The Baidyas have generally claimed Brahmin status, but some have been associated with the Ambashtha caste or sub-caste. In the pre-colonial era of Bengal, Baidyas were regarded as the highest Hindu castes along with Brahmins and Kayasthas. Historian Bijay Chandra Mazumdar suggests that the Baidyas owe their origin to the Vellala Vaidyas, known for their military prowess"
"and 1850 CE, the Kayasthas were regarded as one of the highest Hindu castes in the region. According to Ronald Inden, an Indologist, ""many of the higher castes of India have historically been organised into ranked clans or lineages"". The Bengali Kayastha was organised into smaller subcastes and even smaller ranked grades of clans (""kulas"") around 1500 CE. The four major subcastes were ""Daksina-radhi"", ""Vangaja"", ""Uttara-radhi"" and ""Varendra"". The ""Daksina-radhi"" and ""Vangaja"" subcastes were further divided into ""Kulina"" or Kulin (""high clan rank"") and ""Maulika"" or Maulik, the lower clan rank. The Maulika had four further ""ranked grades"". The ""Uttara-radhi"""
"Kshatriya Kshatriya (Devanagari: क्षत्रिय; Gujarati: ક્ષત્રિય; Gurmukhi: ਖੱਤਰੀ; from Sanskrit ""kṣatra"", ""rule, authority"") is one of the four varna (social orders) of the Hindu society. The Sanskrit term ""kṣatriyaḥ"" is used in the context of Vedic society wherein members were organised into four classes: ""kshatriya"", ""brahmin"", ""vaishya"" and ""shudra"". Traditionally, the kshatriya constituted the ruling and military class. Their role was to protect their interests by fighting in wartime and governing in peacetime. The administrative machinery in the Rig Vedic period functioned with a tribal chief called ""Rajan"" whose position was not hereditary. The king was elected in a tribal"
"system was prevalent and rigidly followed, with each caste represented by a local body of elders who represented the community. These elders set the rules and regulations that were implemented with the help of royal decrees. Untouchability was part of the caste system and these communities were represented by leaders (""Kaivadadavaru""). The Muslim communities were represented by their own group in coastal Karnataka. The caste system did not, however, prevent distinguished persons from all castes from being promoted to high-ranking cadre in the army and administration. In civil life, by virtue of the caste system, Brahmins enjoyed a high level"
"and massive reservoirs called ""barays"". Society was arranged in a hierarchy reflecting the Hindu caste system, where the commoners — rice farmers and fishermen — formed the large majority of the population. The kshatriyas — royalty, nobles, warlords, soldiers, and warriors — formed a governing elite and authorities. Other social classes included brahmins (priests), traders, artisans such as carpenters and stonemasons, potters, metalworkers, goldsmiths, and textile weavers, while on the lowest social level are slaves. The extensive irrigation projects provided rice surpluses that could support a large population. The state religion was Hinduism but influenced by the cult of Devaraja,"
"caste system across religions. A lawyer named Sabu Thomas filed a petition to have the book published without the last chapter, which had graphic description of sexual acts between members of different castes. Thomas claimed the alleged obscenity in the last chapter deeply hurts the Syrian Christian community, the basis of the novel. Caste system in India The caste system in India is the paradigmatic ethnographic example of caste. It has origins in ancient India, and was transformed by various ruling elites in medieval, early-modern, and modern India, especially the Mughal Empire and the British Raj. It is today the"
"Dhedh Dhedh (also Dhed, Dhedha or Dhedhas) are a Scheduled Caste of India. Historically, certain upper caste communities have considered them to be an untouchable group, outside the Hindu ritual ranking system known as varna. The Dhedh community too observes untouchability in relationships with other low-status castes. The sociologist Sujata Patel says that in Gujarat the Dhedhs are considered to be a sub-caste of the scheduled castes whose traditional occupation was weaving. In the 1930s-40s, many depressed classes and communities were active in trying to change their caste name and elevate their social status to that of Rajput. These included"
"but they continued to be considered as lower castes by higher ranked communities, including the Saint Thomas Christians. Caste system has been observed among Muslims in India. They practice endogamy, hypergamy, hereditary occupations, avoid social mixing and have been stratified. There is some controversy if these characteristics make them social groups or castes of Islam. Indian Muslims are a mix of Sunni (majority), Shia and other sects of Islam. From the earliest days of Islam's arrival in South Asia, the Arabic, Persian and Afghan Muslims have been part of the upper, noble caste. Some upper caste Hindus converted to Islam"
"the southern plains. Unlike the Hindu caste systems prevalent in Khas and Madhesi societies, the existence and influence of Buddhist ""ex-monks"" from ancient times in the Kathmandu Valley added a ""double-headed"" element to the Newar caste system. While Rājopādhyāya Brahmins (or Déva-bhāju) occupied the highest social position in the Hindu side, the Vajracharya (or Guru/Gu-bhāju) formed the head among the Buddhists. For Hindu Newars, Brahmans had formal precedence with Kshatriyas, which included the royal family and the various groups now known as Srēṣṭha who ran the administration of the Malla courts. For Buddhist Newars, the non-celibate (gr̥hastha) priestly sangha class"
"refer to Marathi people. For the Kunbi caste of Maharashtrians, please refer to Kunbi. According to the Maharashtrian historian, B.R.Sunthankar, and scholars such as Professor Rajendra Vora (from the University of Pune), the ""Maratha caste"" is a ""caste of peasants"" which formed the bulk of the Maharashtrian society together with the other Kunbi peasant caste. Vora adds that the Maratha caste is the largest caste of India and dominate the power structure in Maharashtra, especially in the rural society. According to Jeremy Black, British historian at the University of Exeter, ""Maratha caste is a coalescence of peasants, shepherds, ironworkers, etc."
"upper caste people conducted by Kings, and used to get paid for that. Presently bari community just like all other backward communities has grown up and came out to do all sorts of jobs. Bari (caste) The Bari are a Hindu =caste found in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar and Rajasthan in India. The Bari community get their name from the Sanskrit word “vari” meaning water. They are also called Rawat and are a community of household servants and makers of leaf-plates. The Bari mainly speak Hindi and write in Devanagari, but also speak Awadhi in"
"Early Pandyan Society The Early Pandyas were one of the dynasties that ruled the ancient Tamil country from the pre-Christian era to about 200 AD. The Sangam works such as Mathuraikkanci, Netunalvatai and the Purananuru collection give a lot of information about the life and habits of the people during this age. The Tamil society during the early Pandyan age had several class distinctions among the people, which were different from the Vedic classification of Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. The highest class below the king, among the Tamils, was the ""Arivar"" or the sages. They were the ascetics that"
"hierarchical system which distinguishes groups based on social status, rank, wealth, and occupation. Most of India still follows the caste system despite some problematic implications it may have. People who are Sikh are strictly against the caste system as it breaks their religious principles of equality. Guru Nanak believed the caste system to be evil and dispelled peoples ignorance by saying “""anas ki jat sabhe eke paihcanbo - recognise all of mankind as a single caste of humanity”."" Many Sikhs have dropped their caste name and have chosen to have the surname of “Kaur”(middle name for all female Sikhs) or"