[Aditya Koirala]

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The caste system existed in Indian History since the ages of Kings and empires. The castes did not necessarily mean to divide the society into parts or was it formed for a discriminative purpose. The Indian society got internally divided and the consequence of which still is borne by every small household in the villages and underdeveloped rural areas of India.

The reason for India serving under the Mughals and the British rule is many a times reasoned with the lack of unity in the diversified population of India. But to a great extent, the caste system that was actively practised at the time had a hand in it.

To understand the inherent part of caste in the Sanatana Dharma, let us first understand the history of the caste system.

During the time of the Rigveda (1500 – 1200 BCE), there were two varnas: arya varna and kodasa varna. These varnas existed because of the difference in the race, colour or culture between them. The Aryas were considered to be a higher race. By the end of the Atharvaveda, new classes of distinction arose. The Dasas were renamed as Surdas, the slaves. Also new classifications emerged, namely the Kshatriyas, Brahmins and the Vaishyas. Gradually, the Surdas and Vaishyas were considered as low positioned races and were exploited. The Brahmins, Kshatriyas gained higher ranks.

With time, the society got culturally distinctive. New classifications were formed on the basis of their work. The different working sections got grouped and were named under their job roles in the society. Some were in the line of the military, some were merchants, farmers and some worked as labourers. This classification of the various kinds of working sections of the society in the kingdom was easier for assigning duties.

The division of the Indian society under the practices of the Sanatana Dharma actively grew further. New subdivisions were made from the existing sections. The chain of subdivisions made for the clear segregation of the different working class started to become a division of power. The classes with more wealth, power and respect rose high whereas those who didn’t were left backwarded. Casts of these sections began to form, ranking them all from a point of hierarchy to the point of backwardness.

This system grew uglier. The lower casts, mainly the poor, were looked down upon. They were treated as slaves, beaten at will and oppressed at will. They were not allowed to enter the temples nor were they invited to important gatherings. They were named untouchables, a race so downtrodden, touching them was considered gruesome.

Looking at modern times, this practice of caste  untouchability has significantly declined to a great extent, but not totally abolished. The Caste system is still actively practised, though not with the same intensity. There are still untouchables that exist in the society and there still live the Dasas.

Understanding caste from the point of Sanatana Dharma

During the initial time of the formation,when society was constructed and the divisions were made, Sanatana Dharma existed for a very long time. All these practices came under the name of religion. The decisions were made for an effective coordination among the people in the society through which everyone could wholly benefit. But as time changed, the purpose of the subdivisions made were changed and all the practices came under the name of religion. A noble cause was infected.

In the teachings of Sanatana Dharma, nowhere does it teach about the castes being a determinant of power.

Caste is the result of the mix of the thought of one person on the other of a weaker character and of the religious teachings. The society adopted changes at will, followed an inhumane practice at will and the blame of which fell upon religion.

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