The western colonial gaze reduced the millennia old Indian culture & religion to a prism of caste & Sati, generating atrocity literature internalized in academia, media & entertainment. Solution: such a dreadful tribalistic culture needs to be 'eradicated' & 'saved' by Christianity or Communism.
Every society & religion in the world had a notion of a caste system. Since they depict the religion negatively, prominent competing religions (notably those which ruled over Hindus & seek converts) have sought to erase caste in their depictions & have created a false narrative that caste based issues are unique only to Hinduism.
Summary:
The word Caste comes from the Portuguese word: Casta which means measure of whiteness.
Europe had a seven-fold caste system of endogamous groups classified into labor groups by birth & inter-marriage, that had theological sanction as well, using the curse of Ham. This theology was followed by converted natives such as in Ethiopia. This justified slavery by birth.
Interestingly, Megasthenes talks about seven divisions in ancient India had seven castes as well, in his Indica. The seven castes were sages, farmers, herdsmen, artisans, soldiers, overlookers & government officials. Notably different from the caste system in other societies, there was no slavery or bonded labor. Also, Megasthenes notes that these castes were not endogamous & this is divided by occupation rather than birth.
The system had a notion of jatis (tribes) & varnas (colors). There are 1000s of jatis and varnas. A Jati can be likened to family lineage or last name. The scriptures refer to Varnas but not Jatis.
Different jatis were associated with different varnas. Throughout history, (unlike the European caste system), jatis shifted between varnas at different points of time.
The British called this jati-varna system the caste system, which they were familiar with. One key difference is the absence of slavery in the Hindu system. (Dasas were servants but not slaves). Cunning mistranslations translate Dasa, Dasya & Dasyus as slaves. This ignored Rig Veda's references to wealthy Dasyas who gave donations. They lived with their families and became judges, doctors & watchmen. Slaves on the other hand could have any of their family members sold at will.
In contrast, in religions & societies with slavery, the children were ripped away & sold/resold as slaves. Men/women/children slaves couldn't stay together & could be bought & sold at any time. Children were born into slavery.
Double standards were employed in writing text books, wherein a history of caste & slavery in other major religions (including scriptural theological sanction) were suppressed, while Hinduism alone was presented as oppressive, while ignoring the Hindu scriptural & historical references that opposed discrimination.
The core popular Hindu scriptural references emphasized oneness of everything & avoiding discrimination. These references are ignored in the mainstream narrative.
Main Hindu scriptures were written by Dalits (a post-modern constructed word derived from poor: Daridhra in Samskritam, Dalidha in Pali to Dalit). Many Hindu saints who are worshipped were Dalits.
Hindu saints recognized caste based discrimination & cited religious scriptures to reform.
Hindu scriptures recognized discrimination & called for reform.
Travelers to India before the invasions have talked about the lack of caste based discrimination in a liberal & wealthy society and also the existence of discrimination (San Zhang refers to untouchables living outside the city). After invasions when Hindu society was drained of wealth by oppressive rulers, discrimination appears to have gotten worse. While judging these societies, it is good to judge the contemporary societies in other parts of the world as well.
Hindu society has also acknowledged & atoned in terms of policies (reservations) & laws (atrocities acts). Other societies are not even close in acknowledging & atoning their atrocities.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Details:
Dalit Hindu scriptural writers:
Valmiki, a hunter, became a sage & wrote the Ramayana. Veda Vyasa, the son of a fisherwoman (Satyavati), divided the Vedas & wrote the Mahabharatha & Bhagavatham.
Hindu reformers & prominent Dalit devotees.
Ramananda (originally a Brahmana) treated everyone equally & took Kabir (a Muslim tailor) & Ravidas (a Dalit tanner) as his sishyas (students).
Kerala Christians had prevalent slavery. In 1845, Enathikkal Thomman purchased a Pulayar Dalit slave for Rs.21. This continued until the Travancore Rani Gowri Lakshmi Bayi, abolished slavery, 22 years before the British, 53 years before USA, 150 years before Saudi Arabia.
The Dutch East India Company also indulged in slave trade of children.
Slaves were scripturally threatened with punishment for running away. St.Theodore is the patron-saint of missing slaves in the religion.
Islamic Caste System:
Ashraf (High caste): Saiad/Sayyid/Syed, Sheikh, Pathan, Moghul, Mallik, Mirza
Ajlaf (Low caste with internal class divisions): Pirali, Thakrai, cultivating Sheikhs, Darzi, Jolaha, Fakir, Rangrez, Barhi, Bhalhiara, Chik, Churihar, Dai, Dhawa, Dhunia, Gaddi, Kalal, Kasai, Kula Kunjara, Laheri, Mahifarosh, Malla, Naliya, Nikari, Abdal/Abdul, Bako, Bediya, Bhal, Chamba, Dafali, Dhobi, Hajjam, Mucho, Nagarchi, Nal, Panwaria, Madaria, Tunlia.
Arzal (Degraded caste): Pasmanda, Bhanar, Halalkhor, Hijra, Kasbi/Kasab, Lalbegi, Maugta, Mehtar.
Only a Qureshi can be an Islamic ruler & Ansars have to be servers (decided one day after the founder's death).
Summary:
The word Caste comes from the Portuguese word: Casta which means measure of whiteness.
Did you know that 'Sistemas de Castas' (System/society of castes) was used by colonizers to segregate the colonized in the Americas & Africa? These native cultures are now wiped out.
In Asia, one native culture survived being wiped out. Now, when you think of 'caste', what do you think of? Who created the classification: 'Scheduled castes' & 'Scheduled tribes'?
Europe had a seven-fold caste system of endogamous groups classified into labor groups by birth & inter-marriage, that had theological sanction as well, using the curse of Ham. This theology was followed by converted natives such as in Ethiopia. This justified slavery by birth.
Birth-based social hierarchy is a European idea where social privilege and rank was carried by birth. There was an explicit hierarchy of titles (which get passed down by primogeniture), such as: Archduke, Duke, Marquis, Count, Earl , Viscount, Baron , Lord, Gentleman. The "aristocracy" was based on blood and race privilege in the British system of peerage and the landed gentry was below this. "Landed gentry" were those who could live off of rental income from the underclass. The Mughals had similarly created "zamindari."
The system had a notion of jatis (tribes) & varnas (colors). There are 1000s of jatis and varnas. A Jati can be likened to family lineage or last name. The scriptures refer to Varnas but not Jatis.
Different jatis were associated with different varnas. Throughout history, (unlike the European caste system), jatis shifted between varnas at different points of time.
The British called this jati-varna system the caste system, which they were familiar with. One key difference is the absence of slavery in the Hindu system. (Dasas were servants but not slaves). Cunning mistranslations translate Dasa, Dasya & Dasyus as slaves. This ignored Rig Veda's references to wealthy Dasyas who gave donations. They lived with their families and became judges, doctors & watchmen. Slaves on the other hand could have any of their family members sold at will.
In contrast, in religions & societies with slavery, the children were ripped away & sold/resold as slaves. Men/women/children slaves couldn't stay together & could be bought & sold at any time. Children were born into slavery.
Double standards were employed in writing text books, wherein a history of caste & slavery in other major religions (including scriptural theological sanction) were suppressed, while Hinduism alone was presented as oppressive, while ignoring the Hindu scriptural & historical references that opposed discrimination.
The core popular Hindu scriptural references emphasized oneness of everything & avoiding discrimination. These references are ignored in the mainstream narrative.
Main Hindu scriptures were written by Dalits (a post-modern constructed word derived from poor: Daridhra in Samskritam, Dalidha in Pali to Dalit). Many Hindu saints who are worshipped were Dalits.
Hindu saints recognized caste based discrimination & cited religious scriptures to reform.
Hindu scriptures recognized discrimination & called for reform.
Travelers to India before the invasions have talked about the lack of caste based discrimination in a liberal & wealthy society and also the existence of discrimination (San Zhang refers to untouchables living outside the city). After invasions when Hindu society was drained of wealth by oppressive rulers, discrimination appears to have gotten worse. While judging these societies, it is good to judge the contemporary societies in other parts of the world as well.
Hindu society has also acknowledged & atoned in terms of policies (reservations) & laws (atrocities acts). Other societies are not even close in acknowledging & atoning their atrocities.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Details:
Dalit Hindu scriptural writers:
Valmiki, a hunter, became a sage & wrote the Ramayana. Veda Vyasa, the son of a fisherwoman (Satyavati), divided the Vedas & wrote the Mahabharatha & Bhagavatham.
Hindu reformers & prominent Dalit devotees.
Ramananda (originally a Brahmana) treated everyone equally & took Kabir (a Muslim tailor) & Ravidas (a Dalit tanner) as his sishyas (students).
Kshatriya queen Mirabai took Ravidas as her guru & prostrated at his feet.
Dyaneshwar was the Guru of Visobha Khechar, who was the Guru of Namdev, a tailor by Jati.
Adi Shankara prostated at the feet of a Chandala (Dalit) who enlightened him.
Kannappa Naayanar who worshipped God with love but with forbidden things is recognized as Shiva's highest devotee.
Ramanuja treated everyone as one.
When Dalit devotee Thirupaanazhvar didn't want to enter the temple considering himself lowly, the Ranganatha temple door didn't open until he was carried into the temple by the priest himself on the orders of Ranganatha Swami, a ritual that was recently re-enacted. Thirupaanazhvhar is worshipped as the highest Vaishnavite saint, an Azhvar.
Other great devotees are Gora Kumbhar-a Dalit potter, Chokhamela, a Dalit cattle-herder, Savanta-a gardener, Janabai-a maid servant, Damaji-A servant of Muslim rulers & Sajana- A Sindhi Butcher.
Sree Narayana Guru used Vedanta teachings to reform a discriminatory Kerala society & was involved in the Vaikom protests which eventually led to temples thrown open to Dalits.
Tamil Nadu had a long pre-modern history of non-Brahmin priests, but temples that had prohibitions were thrown open after Gandhi's call, such as the Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple.
Birsa Munda was a prominent freedom fighter who fought to preserve tribal culture from British missionaries & saving cows.
Madurai Veeran is a Dalit warrior who protected the Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple & is worshipped as a deity across castes in Tamil Nadu, India.
Dalit groups like Ramnamis embraced wearing a sacred thread, normally projected by political Dalit groups as a Brahminical hate symbol.
Balram Das wrote poems on Lakshmi & the Lakshmi Purana, that is chanted by Ladies.
Divakara was a prominent Dalit Sanskrit poet.
Dayanand Sarasvati, Swami Vivekananda, Swami Sahajananda & Tamil poet Subramanya Bharathi were other prominent social reformers inspired by Vedanta.
Maratha king Shivaji was the first king in the world to issue a proclamation against slavery & ended the slave trade by the Dutch, 186 years before the USA.
Travancore Rani Gowri Lakshmi Bayi abolished slavery in 1812, the first queen in the world to do so, 22 years
before the British, 53 years before USA, 150 years before Saudi.
Political Dalit figures:
Poykayil Johannan fought for the right of Dalits to enter churches, which Dalit christians were denied.
Fluidity of Varna:
Trishanku was a prince banished to become an outcaste. Viswamitra was a Kshatriya who became a sage. Buddha was a Kshatriya who became a sage. Prasenajit (king during Buddha's time) was of low Jati birth, who became a Kshatriya once he gained power. Multiple low Jati kings became Kshatriyas while Kshatriyas who lost power were relegated to Dalits. Satyavati, the fisherwoman who became queen, in addition to Veda Vyasa (a sage), gave birth to Kshatriya princes (Chitrangadha & Vichitryaveerya). Rama's ancestory, Asamanjas, born a Kshatriya became a Shudra.
Scriptural references:
Non-prominent scriptures that refer to discrimination:
The Manu Smriti does have discriminatory verses. However, no primary source exists, and there are a few conflicting secondary sources. The much maligned ManuSmriti talks about giving much higher levels of punishments to the Brahmanas, Kshatriyas & Vaishyas in comparison to the Shudras for similar offenses, which is reverse discrimination. Smritis, by definition, are for a certain place & time & there were thousands of Smritis that were in use in different regions & times.
The other oft-cited scriptural incident is the Shambukha incident in the Uttara Ramayana, wherein Shambukha, a Shudra was killed unjustly by Rama. However, research shows that this obscure scripture (which mainstream Hindus are unfamiliar with) was a later addition to the popular Ramayana which ends with the coronation of Rama.
In mainstream Hindu practice, discriminatory verses & scriptures have naturally disappeared in popularity & public memory. The non discriminatory verses & scriptures exist in public Hindu consciousness.
Prominent Scriptures that reject discrimination:
Advaita, Dvaita & Visishta-advaita talks about oneness of everything with God in everyone. Krishna in the Bhagavath Gita states the varnas are not by birth but by gunas (qualities). Yudhishtira says the same in the Yaksha questioning episode in the Mahabharatha. Rama has Guha (a boatman) & Vanaras (non human apes) as his friends in the Ramayana. In the Srimath Bhagavatham, Rantideva, when tested, gave offerings to a Chandala and hugged him, showcasing oneness of everything & praised by God. Uddhanka refused an offering from a Chandala & fails to gain God's grace. Guruvayurappan took the form of an invisible buffalo for a Dalit devotee who worshiped him as a buffalo. Udupi Krishna turned around for the greatly respected & worshipped devotee, Kanaka Dasa (from the Kuruba shepherd community) & is worshiped from the back till today. Kanaka Dasa's guru was VyasaTirtha, who was also the guru of Purandara Dasa. Purandara Dasa was from a merchant community & the author of the basics of Carnatic Sangeetha Shastras, which are taught till today. The Nandi in a Shiva temple moved aside for Nandanaar. The Kapaleeshwarar temple has a depiction of Shiva coming to accept offerings as a Chandala, is slighted by the Brahmanas who punishes them.
All these are prominent scriptural references that are ignored to create the current narrative.
Scriptural references to Varna
Per Srimath Bhagavatha Puranam, there was originally one Varna called Hamsa. (Hamsa is also a mythical bird that can separate milk & water, implying one with this nature can discern the good from the bad). Later, owing to the effect of the Tri Gunas (Sattva, Rajas, Tamas), the four varnas of Brahmana (Sattva predominant), Kshatriya (Rajas predominant with Sattva), Vaishya (Rajas predominant with Tamas) & Shudra (Tamas predominant with Rajas) were formed. Rig Veda (Purusha Suktha), Manu Smriti, Bhagavath Gita, Mahabharatha all talk about svabhavas (inherent nature) & varnas. There is reference to birth & svabhavas of parents determining the child's guna in the early days of the human race. In later days with intermixing, it is explicitly stated that one's Gunas & Svabhavas (inner nature) determines their varna.
The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad explicitly states that Shudras are superior to Vaishyas, who are superior to Kshatriyas. Per this Upanishad, one who studies three Vedas will get a progeny with dark skin & red eyes, two will get a brown skinned progeny & one will get a pale skin.
Other religious systems are also ignored.
Christian Caste system:
Royals, Knights, Nobles, Commoners, Slaves, Cagots (Untouchables). As late as the 18th century, a cagot had his hand cut off & nailed to a church door for touching a water font. Untouchability practices led to various customs.
Political Dalit figures:
Poykayil Johannan fought for the right of Dalits to enter churches, which Dalit christians were denied.
Fluidity of Varna:
Scriptural references:
Non-prominent scriptures that refer to discrimination:
The Manu Smriti does have discriminatory verses. However, no primary source exists, and there are a few conflicting secondary sources. The much maligned ManuSmriti talks about giving much higher levels of punishments to the Brahmanas, Kshatriyas & Vaishyas in comparison to the Shudras for similar offenses, which is reverse discrimination. Smritis, by definition, are for a certain place & time & there were thousands of Smritis that were in use in different regions & times.
The other oft-cited scriptural incident is the Shambukha incident in the Uttara Ramayana, wherein Shambukha, a Shudra was killed unjustly by Rama. However, research shows that this obscure scripture (which mainstream Hindus are unfamiliar with) was a later addition to the popular Ramayana which ends with the coronation of Rama.
In mainstream Hindu practice, discriminatory verses & scriptures have naturally disappeared in popularity & public memory. The non discriminatory verses & scriptures exist in public Hindu consciousness.
Prominent Scriptures that reject discrimination:
Advaita, Dvaita & Visishta-advaita talks about oneness of everything with God in everyone. Krishna in the Bhagavath Gita states the varnas are not by birth but by gunas (qualities). Yudhishtira says the same in the Yaksha questioning episode in the Mahabharatha. Rama has Guha (a boatman) & Vanaras (non human apes) as his friends in the Ramayana. In the Srimath Bhagavatham, Rantideva, when tested, gave offerings to a Chandala and hugged him, showcasing oneness of everything & praised by God. Uddhanka refused an offering from a Chandala & fails to gain God's grace. Guruvayurappan took the form of an invisible buffalo for a Dalit devotee who worshiped him as a buffalo. Udupi Krishna turned around for the greatly respected & worshipped devotee, Kanaka Dasa (from the Kuruba shepherd community) & is worshiped from the back till today. Kanaka Dasa's guru was VyasaTirtha, who was also the guru of Purandara Dasa. Purandara Dasa was from a merchant community & the author of the basics of Carnatic Sangeetha Shastras, which are taught till today. The Nandi in a Shiva temple moved aside for Nandanaar. The Kapaleeshwarar temple has a depiction of Shiva coming to accept offerings as a Chandala, is slighted by the Brahmanas who punishes them.
All these are prominent scriptural references that are ignored to create the current narrative.
Scriptural references to Varna
Per Srimath Bhagavatha Puranam, there was originally one Varna called Hamsa. (Hamsa is also a mythical bird that can separate milk & water, implying one with this nature can discern the good from the bad). Later, owing to the effect of the Tri Gunas (Sattva, Rajas, Tamas), the four varnas of Brahmana (Sattva predominant), Kshatriya (Rajas predominant with Sattva), Vaishya (Rajas predominant with Tamas) & Shudra (Tamas predominant with Rajas) were formed. Rig Veda (Purusha Suktha), Manu Smriti, Bhagavath Gita, Mahabharatha all talk about svabhavas (inherent nature) & varnas. There is reference to birth & svabhavas of parents determining the child's guna in the early days of the human race. In later days with intermixing, it is explicitly stated that one's Gunas & Svabhavas (inner nature) determines their varna.
The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad explicitly states that Shudras are superior to Vaishyas, who are superior to Kshatriyas. Per this Upanishad, one who studies three Vedas will get a progeny with dark skin & red eyes, two will get a brown skinned progeny & one will get a pale skin.
Other religious systems are also ignored.
Christian Caste system:
Royals, Knights, Nobles, Commoners, Slaves, Cagots (Untouchables). As late as the 18th century, a cagot had his hand cut off & nailed to a church door for touching a water font. Untouchability practices led to various customs.
Among the Royals were these endogamous castes: Duke, Marquees, Earl, Viscount, Baron, Baronets, Knight, Esquire, Gentlemen. Heretics/Heathens (non-believers) were dehumanized, persecuted & wiped out.
Kerala Christians had prevalent slavery. In 1845, Enathikkal Thomman purchased a Pulayar Dalit slave for Rs.21. This continued until the Travancore Rani Gowri Lakshmi Bayi, abolished slavery, 22 years before the British, 53 years before USA, 150 years before Saudi Arabia.
The Dutch East India Company also indulged in slave trade of children.
Slaves were scripturally threatened with punishment for running away. St.Theodore is the patron-saint of missing slaves in the religion.
Islamic Caste System:
Ashraf (High caste): Saiad/Sayyid/Syed, Sheikh, Pathan, Moghul, Mallik, Mirza
Ajlaf (Low caste with internal class divisions): Pirali, Thakrai, cultivating Sheikhs, Darzi, Jolaha, Fakir, Rangrez, Barhi, Bhalhiara, Chik, Churihar, Dai, Dhawa, Dhunia, Gaddi, Kalal, Kasai, Kula Kunjara, Laheri, Mahifarosh, Malla, Naliya, Nikari, Abdal/Abdul, Bako, Bediya, Bhal, Chamba, Dafali, Dhobi, Hajjam, Mucho, Nagarchi, Nal, Panwaria, Madaria, Tunlia.
Arzal (Degraded caste): Pasmanda, Bhanar, Halalkhor, Hijra, Kasbi/Kasab, Lalbegi, Maugta, Mehtar.
Only a Qureshi can be an Islamic ruler & Ansars have to be servers (decided one day after the founder's death).
Akhdam untouchables.
The British Superintendent. of 1921 Census: “We pigeon-holed everyone by caste and if we had no true caste for them, labelled them with the hereditary occupation.. We are largely responsible for the system we deplore.” "In the 19th century bands of missionaries, phrenologists, ethnologists, anthropologists, orientalists and eugenicists, set about identifying and classifying Indians like zoological specimens into different castes. They used head measurements, skin color, physique, occupation."
Risley, the Chief Commissioner of India's 1901 Census came with the definitive identifying marker of an Indian's caste. "The social status of a particular group varies in inverse ratio to the mean relative width of their nose!"
Atonement:
In Hindu society, Dalits have reservations & stringent laws protecting them. Statistically, violence against Dalits is 10 times lower than the rest of the population. Imagine if slaves/heathens/heretics/cagots/Ajlafs/Arzals/Kafirs had reserved places in government (including promotions) & sought-after universities. Or if on a complaint, the accused is arrested & jailed and has to prove himself innocent (rather than the standard process of innocent until proven guilty).
It does not make sense to hold today's people accountable for the alleged sins of their ancestors. However, this system is an attempt at atonement. It is flawed in the sense that it allows the wealthiest reserved to take advantage of the system (parents & children holding top positions in government), rather than focusing on the poor.
In contrast, other systems have difficulty in even acknowledging the atrocities. They are buried through silence (to paraphrase Catherine Nixey). The decent thing to do is to acknowledge that atrocities have happened and try to atone for it, rather than piling on more hate literature on the non-believers for the sake of conversions.
Kafir (non-believer), Munafiq, Murtad.
Kafirs are considered as untouchables & unclean (Najas)-At Tawba 9:17, 9:28.
Slavery: Slaves were traded in slave markets in Kabul. Only non-Muslims could be slaves, per Major Henry. Slaves were traded as late as 1970, though outlawed in the rest of the world. https://twitter.com/TrueIndology/status/1105345123754430465
Kafirs are considered as untouchables & unclean (Najas)-At Tawba 9:17, 9:28.
Slavery: Slaves were traded in slave markets in Kabul. Only non-Muslims could be slaves, per Major Henry. Slaves were traded as late as 1970, though outlawed in the rest of the world. https://twitter.com/TrueIndology/status/1105345123754430465
Marriage rules: boy's sufu should be higher than the girl. Fatwa 749/622/B.
Enslavement of Kafirs is a practice that continues till now (in the case of the Yezidis). Moplahs would abduct children to sell them to the Dutch.
In the Islamic kingdoms, preference were given to Arabs & Turks in the administration. Even today, an Arab woman is considered high caste & won't be easily allowed to marry, say a Tamil or Indonesian Muslim.
British classification:
Enslavement of Kafirs is a practice that continues till now (in the case of the Yezidis). Moplahs would abduct children to sell them to the Dutch.
In the Islamic kingdoms, preference were given to Arabs & Turks in the administration. Even today, an Arab woman is considered high caste & won't be easily allowed to marry, say a Tamil or Indonesian Muslim.
British classification:
Comments of British Census officers who were given orders to classify Hindus on caste.
The British Superintendent. of 1921 Census: “We pigeon-holed everyone by caste and if we had no true caste for them, labelled them with the hereditary occupation.. We are largely responsible for the system we deplore.” "In the 19th century bands of missionaries, phrenologists, ethnologists, anthropologists, orientalists and eugenicists, set about identifying and classifying Indians like zoological specimens into different castes. They used head measurements, skin color, physique, occupation."
"We deplore the caste system and its effect on social and economic problems, but we are largely responsible for the system we deplore." - M.L. Middleton, junior superintendent of the Punjab Census Operations, Census Of India 1921 Vol.5 Punjab And Delhi Pt.1 (report)
WR Cornish, who supervised census operations in the Madras Presidency in 1871: "regarding the origin of caste we can place no reliance upon the statements made in the Hindu sacred writings. Whether there was ever a period in which the Hindus were composed of four classes is exceedingly doubtful".
CF Magrath, leader and author of a monograph on the 1871 Bihar census, wrote, "that the now meaningless division into the four castes alleged to have been made by Manu should be put aside".
The Census of the Island of Bombay- 1864: "It is supposed that at one time caste determined the occupation that a Hindu was to follow. Now it has but a limited influence & there are few castes of which the members will not engage in any occupation & but few occupations in which persons of any caste will not seek a livelihood. Of the 76 occupations in the table, there are but 18 in which Brahmuns were not found engaged & of these there are 5 at least in which it is only a fortuitous occurrence that they were not so. Of the 30,604 Brahmuns enumerated in Bombay, there were returned as, Beggars and Paupers 10,370, or one-third of the whole, as Writers and Accountants 5,973, Priests 2,606, Schoolmasters & Teachers only-720, Merchants and Bankers, 1,728, Domestic servants 1,795. In the tabulation the designation priest has been taken in a too restricted sense, & those not Brahmuns who acted as priests in the lower castes, have been included with teachers..
Anthropologist Susan Bayly: "until well into the colonial period, much of the subcontinent was still populated by people for whom the formal distinctions of caste were of only limited importance, even in parts of the so-called Hindu heartland… The institutions and beliefs which are now often described as the elements of traditional caste were only just taking shape as recently as the early 18th Century".
Risley, the Chief Commissioner of India's 1901 Census came with the definitive identifying marker of an Indian's caste. "The social status of a particular group varies in inverse ratio to the mean relative width of their nose!"
Atonement:
In Hindu society, Dalits have reservations & stringent laws protecting them. Statistically, violence against Dalits is 10 times lower than the rest of the population. Imagine if slaves/heathens/heretics/cagots/Ajlafs/Arzals/Kafirs had reserved places in government (including promotions) & sought-after universities. Or if on a complaint, the accused is arrested & jailed and has to prove himself innocent (rather than the standard process of innocent until proven guilty).
It does not make sense to hold today's people accountable for the alleged sins of their ancestors. However, this system is an attempt at atonement. It is flawed in the sense that it allows the wealthiest reserved to take advantage of the system (parents & children holding top positions in government), rather than focusing on the poor.
In contrast, other systems have difficulty in even acknowledging the atrocities. They are buried through silence (to paraphrase Catherine Nixey). The decent thing to do is to acknowledge that atrocities have happened and try to atone for it, rather than piling on more hate literature on the non-believers for the sake of conversions.
References:
Savitri Mumukshu's thread on the history of Caste in India
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casta
https://twitter.com/noconversion/status/1064934086035279872
https://swarajyamag.com/ideas/of-indias-invention-of-the-caste-system-and-its-constant-battle-against-it
https://swarajyamag.com/ideas/a-culture-of-discrimination-or-a-culture-of-emancipation-a-critical-look-at-romila-thapars-latest-book
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad reference & distortions: http://indiafacts.org/deadly-distortions-of-colonial-rule-notes-from-a-rulers-gaze-by-arvind-sharma-ii/
Jati Varna fluidity: http://indiafacts.org/caste-system-colonial-idea/
https://swarajyamag.com/culture/caste-hierarchy-and-discrimination-not-sanctioned-by-the-vedas
Mirabai bowing to Ravidas pic: https://twitter.com/TrueIndology/status/958556571130318848
Dalit saints & reformers: https://swarajyamag.com/ideas/a-culture-of-discrimination-or-a-culture-of-emancipation-a-critical-look-at-romila-thapars-latest-book
Tiruppanazhvar: https://swarajyamag.com/ideas/azhwar-and-the-archaka-a-wake-up-call-to-realise-what-dharma-really-is https://twitter.com/TrueIndology/status/1007590909574373378
Trishanku: http://vedham.blogspot.com/2018/09/saptapadi-apadharma.html
Dalit saints: https://twitter.com/TrueIndology/status/1018011136090824704
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casta
https://twitter.com/noconversion/status/1064934086035279872
https://swarajyamag.com/ideas/of-indias-invention-of-the-caste-system-and-its-constant-battle-against-it
https://swarajyamag.com/ideas/a-culture-of-discrimination-or-a-culture-of-emancipation-a-critical-look-at-romila-thapars-latest-book
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad reference & distortions: http://indiafacts.org/deadly-distortions-of-colonial-rule-notes-from-a-rulers-gaze-by-arvind-sharma-ii/
Jati Varna fluidity: http://indiafacts.org/caste-system-colonial-idea/
https://swarajyamag.com/culture/caste-hierarchy-and-discrimination-not-sanctioned-by-the-vedas
Mirabai bowing to Ravidas pic: https://twitter.com/TrueIndology/status/958556571130318848
Dalit saints & reformers: https://swarajyamag.com/ideas/a-culture-of-discrimination-or-a-culture-of-emancipation-a-critical-look-at-romila-thapars-latest-book
Tiruppanazhvar: https://swarajyamag.com/ideas/azhwar-and-the-archaka-a-wake-up-call-to-realise-what-dharma-really-is https://twitter.com/TrueIndology/status/1007590909574373378
Trishanku: http://vedham.blogspot.com/2018/09/saptapadi-apadharma.html
Dalit saints: https://twitter.com/TrueIndology/status/1018011136090824704
Birsa Munda: https://twitter.com/TrueIndology/status/930861674461986816 https://twitter.com/TrueIndology/status/873169241142304768
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nandanar
Guruvayur buffalo story. https://asharsree.wordpress.com/2013/01/26/the-buffalo-lord-of-guruvayoor/ https://www.indiadivine.org/content/topic/1343778-a-buffalo-inside-guruvayoor-temple-true-event/
Dalit leader Ambedkar on the origin of Shudras: http://www.ambedkar.org/ambcd/38A.%20Who%20were%20the%20Shudras%20Preface.htm
Madurai Veeran: https://twitter.com/TrueIndology/status/988148802736480256
Ramnamis sacred thread: https://twitter.com/TrueIndology/status/842657698223214592
Balram Das: https://twitter.com/TrueIndology/status/818895310755917824
Poykayil Johannan: https://twitter.com/TrueIndology/status/945065334465216512
Divakara: https://twitter.com/TrueIndology/status/752110447894028288
Janabai: https://twitter.com/TrueIndology/status/871005595712634882
Chokamela: https://twitter.com/TrueIndology/status/760525291932389376
https://www.esamskriti.com/e/National-Affairs/For-The-Followers-Of-Dharma/Were-Backward-Classes-always-suppressed-in-India-1.aspx
https://twitter.com/secular_ex/status/1063076275152011265
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste_system_among_South_Asian_Muslims
https://twitter.com/maheshps369/status/1064938669826588672
https://twitter.com/subhashkak1/status/1067394543996284929
http://indiafacts.org/why-is-the-world-so-obsessed-with-indias-caste-system/#.W_Y5JXkC3Fs.twitter
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanaka_Dasa
https://twitter.com/TrueIndology/status/1066004527445360642
https://twitter.com/sankrant/status/1066368174352990209
Catherine Nixey's "A Darkening Age": references to slavery & St.Theodore
https://www.myindiamyglory.com/2017/12/27/300-bc-book-indica-megasthenes-dispels-caste-theories-india/?fbclid=IwAR3yW-YFq83gYXrrTS7g7MiO4DjcxXq7QJG2SIv_v4mAF83usnIIKlMa5aM
http://indiafacts.org/understanding-the-concept-of-varna-as-it-appears-in-hindu-scriptures-i/
http://indiafacts.org/understanding-the-concept-of-varna-as-it-appears-in-hindu-scriptures-ii/
Caste violence statistics: https://swarajyamag.com/ideas/how-india-is-being-shamed-using-deceptive-statistics-on-violence-against-dalits-2
Kafir unclean: https://twitter.com/anshul_aliganj/status/1096227467176673280
Ramnamis sacred thread: https://twitter.com/TrueIndology/status/842657698223214592
Balram Das: https://twitter.com/TrueIndology/status/818895310755917824
Poykayil Johannan: https://twitter.com/TrueIndology/status/945065334465216512
Divakara: https://twitter.com/TrueIndology/status/752110447894028288
Janabai: https://twitter.com/TrueIndology/status/871005595712634882
Chokamela: https://twitter.com/TrueIndology/status/760525291932389376
https://www.esamskriti.com/e/National-Affairs/For-The-Followers-Of-Dharma/Were-Backward-Classes-always-suppressed-in-India-1.aspx
https://twitter.com/secular_ex/status/1063076275152011265
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste_system_among_South_Asian_Muslims
https://twitter.com/maheshps369/status/1064938669826588672
https://twitter.com/subhashkak1/status/1067394543996284929
http://indiafacts.org/why-is-the-world-so-obsessed-with-indias-caste-system/#.W_Y5JXkC3Fs.twitter
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanaka_Dasa
https://twitter.com/TrueIndology/status/1066004527445360642
https://twitter.com/sankrant/status/1066368174352990209
Catherine Nixey's "A Darkening Age": references to slavery & St.Theodore
https://www.myindiamyglory.com/2017/12/27/300-bc-book-indica-megasthenes-dispels-caste-theories-india/?fbclid=IwAR3yW-YFq83gYXrrTS7g7MiO4DjcxXq7QJG2SIv_v4mAF83usnIIKlMa5aM
http://indiafacts.org/understanding-the-concept-of-varna-as-it-appears-in-hindu-scriptures-i/
http://indiafacts.org/understanding-the-concept-of-varna-as-it-appears-in-hindu-scriptures-ii/
Caste violence statistics: https://swarajyamag.com/ideas/how-india-is-being-shamed-using-deceptive-statistics-on-violence-against-dalits-2
Kafir unclean: https://twitter.com/anshul_aliganj/status/1096227467176673280
Bhakthi as the highest ideal: https://www.facebook.com/jataayu.blore/posts/1643722159114310
Detailed analysis with primary sources: https://twitter.com/Dharmichistory2/status/1369317375858802688
2 comments:
wonderful work
wonderful work
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