BIBLICAL STUDIES JOURNAL (BSJ)

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Research article 2582-0214

CASTE SYSTEM
Mr. Solomon John
(Communication and Program manager for Seed Group working in children trafficking villages of Bihar.)
Email: sologurupura@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The caste system is a complex social phenomenon particularly found in

the Indian society. Caste is an arguable issue in the contemporary Indian
context and it negatively being related to the provisions for the
regulation of social control and determination of an individual status.
Caste is the most striking institutional form taken by hierarchy. From
the beginning of the human civilization itself caste discrimination,
Keywords: untouchability and marginalization have very intensively and adversely
Caste System, India,
affected the society and made life miserable. This idea is constructed by
Church, Community.
Hindu society; as a result, it creates a scenario where the discrimination,
untouchability and negligence get practiced in the society. Nowadays in
some of the churches we can see scheduled caste Christians are looked
down as defiled people by the high caste Christians.

Author(s) retain the copyright of this article ©2019 Publishedby VEDA Publications
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creative commons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

1 Mr. Solomon John

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1.0. Introduction „jati‟, which means birth or descends.3

Therefore all the members of a particular
Instead of being an egalitarian community,
'jati' claim their common origin and practice
the church had become hierarchical
a traditional occupation.4 Many social
community. “Caste remains a central issue in
scientists have approached the problem by
the Indian churches. This is complicated by
viewing the caste system as a social
the fact that different castes and tribes are
hierarchy which determines social status.5
now often associated with different
This has been linked to various aspects.
denominations to form ethnic-religious
Louis Dumont has highlighted the role of the
communities. Christianity has not brought an
purity pollution complex. M. N. Srinivas has
end caste in the Churches
elaborated on the status-symbols pursued in
themselves….Divisions in the churches
the process of 'sanskritisation' and
based on ethnicity, class and gender are
'westernization'.6
central issues in churches around the
world.”1
3.0 Definition of Caste
In this context it becomes significant
Sociologists define caste system differently.
for church to make decision what is wrong
Bhupen Chaudhary says that “Caste may be
and right. This issue based study will help us
defined as “an endogamous group or
to understand the significance of the each
collection of such groups bearing a common
person‟s lives in accepting and embracing
name having a same traditional occupation
them in the church and society, particularly
claiming descent from the same source and
in refers to the Indian society. This paper
commonly regarded as forming a single
also will educate us not to discriminate
homogeneous community.”7 K. Singh refers
anyone on the basis of caste and race and
to Herbert Risley and defines “…caste as a “
also will help us to teach the church to
collection of families bearing a common
abstain from this issue. This paper mainly
name, claiming a common descent from a
focuses on caste system, caste system in
mythical ancestors human or divine,
India and the responsibility of the church in
professing to follow the same hereditary
response to the caste system.
calling and are regarded by those who are
competent to give an opinion as forming a
2.0. Concept of the Caste
single homogeneous community.”8
The word „caste‟ comes from the Portuguese
word 'casta' signify 'breed', race or class.2 3
K. Singh, Social And Cultural Anthropology, 193.
According to the origin the word caste 4
K. Singh, Social And Cultural Anthropology, 193.
5
signifies a hereditary link or family origin. In Gabriele Dietrich And Bas Wielenga, Towards
Understanding Indian Society (Thirvalla: C.S.S,
India the word corresponds with „jat‟ or
2008), 49.
6
Gabriele Dietrich, Towards Understanding Indian
1
Paul G. Herbert, “The Christians response to Society, 49.
Hinduism.” Missiology for the 21st Century: South 7
Bhupen Chaudhary, Indian Caste System: Essence
Asian Persepectives, edited by Roger E. Hedlund and And Reality (New Delhi: Global Vision Publishing
Paul Joshua Bhakiaraj (Delhi: ISPCK, 2004), 333 House, 2006), 2.
2 8
K. Singh, Social And Cultural Anthropology K .Singh, Indian Society And Social Institutions
(Lucknow: Prakashan Kendra, 1985), 193. (Lucknow: Prakashan Kendra, 1996), 54.
2 Mr. Solomon John
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Caste in Indian society refers to a with indignity which is a serious

social group where membership is largely discrimination”13
decided by birth. Each such local group
avoids entering into marital relationship with 5.0. Origin of Caste System
outsiders. Originally, this group is associated Caste system commonly practiced in the
with a specific profession. The mutual India. The caste system has a dogmatic
relationship of one caste with the other is virtue around the denial of education to the
established on the principle of lineage and dalits, it is prohibited in the holy book of
the resultant purity of blood, making the Hinduism still than caste system has entered
relationship between one and another caste its fourth millennium.14 Tayongtemjen says
distant.9 “Last thousand years it has been the most
dominating factor of the Indian society
4.0. Casteism entered in the collective consciousness of the
Casteism that slightly varies from caste people as an ideology of inequality. Every
system means the partial or one sided loyalty aspect of social life, organization of a
in favor of a particular caste i.e. a blind society, human relation, and interaction
group loyalty towards one caste. When any between peoples‟ groups, social status, social
mode of thinking assumes the form of an ism, roles and social participation determined by
it becomes rigid and partial.10 According to caste.”15 The caste system was practiced and
Vatsyayan prevailed from its origins. It is a hierarchical
The sense of caste is converted into structure of discrimination developed by the
Casteism only when consideration of Brahminic system.16 M. Stephan says, “It
superiority between castes and the tendency was a crude Aryan method to de- humanizes
to consider the interest of one‟s own caste as the Dravidians”. Further he explains the
opposed to the other castes are attached to it. word caste come from the Spanish word
Casteism is the blind and consequently called caste which means race. In order to
irrational loyalty. Casteism is an overriding, explain the caste system there are some
blind and supreme group loyalty that ignores theory we find here. They are Varna theory
the healthy social standards of justice, fair priestly Theory, functional Theory or
play, equity and universal brotherhood.11 occupational theory and Ritual theory.17
Caste has been dragged into the political D. Manohar Chandra Prasad says,
arena in the forms of Casteism.12 “For many centuries, Dalits, the victims of
According to M Stephen, “The main problem Himdu caste, untouchability and Karma
with caste system is that a person is born cried out for social emancipation and

9 13
F. D. Vakil And K. H. Shivaji Rao, Indian M. Stephen, Introducing Christian Ethics, (Delhi:
Government And Politics (New Delhi: Sterling ISPCK, 2003), 253.
14
Publishers,1993), 367. Tayongtemjen, Introduction To The Christian
10
Vatsyayan, Contemporary Indian Society (Meerut: Ethics (Kolkata: SPACE, 2013), 215.
15
Kedarnath Ramnath & Company, 1979), 68. Tayongtemjen, The Christian Ethics, 215.
11 16
Vatsyayan, Contemporary Indian Society, 68. M. Stephen, Introducing Christian Ethics, 252.
12 17
Vatsyayan, Contemporary Indian Society, 69. M. Stephen, Introducing Christian Ethics, 252.
3 Mr. Solomon John
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annihilation of the castes system.18 “… the 5.2. Priestly Theory

Brahmins, in the course of time, converted According to this theory caste system is the
the caste system into a rigid, closed and creation of the priestly class in order to assert
hereditary one.19 Bhagwan Das says, “Caste their superiority over other. The Priestly
is based on birth and ascribed status. Caste caste is Brahmins. 24
System ensures prestige, power and
privileges for a small aristocracy and 5.3. Functional Theory or Occupational
inherited deprivation and subjection for a Theory
large number of people who were forced to M Stephen explains, this theory says the
word and produce wealth to keep upper few difference in occupation has resulted in the
in comfort.”20 caste system. The people who did similar
jobs grouped together and formed guilds and
5.1. Varna Theory this gave from to the caste system. Function
According to M Stepehen, Varna theory says and function alone is responsible for the
caste was developed on the basis of color in origin of caste system. The ancient Hindu
the Vedic period. There was a difference supports this theory. Because of this Indians
between Arya and Anarya. Brahmin the low caste people were suffering.25
Kshatriyas and Vaisya belonged to Arya
Varna, Sudra and panchamas belonged to the 5.4 Ethnic Theory
Anarya or Dasavarna. This theory insists the Ethnicity is another way of looking at caste
caste duty.21 The Hindu scripture subscribe system for the practice of castism. M
to the caste system like this, Brahmin Stephen says, “According to ethnic theory,
Kshatriyas,Vaisya and sudras came out of caste place to Dravidians in society. This
Brahman‟s mouth/head, hands, thigh and feet was because the social index of the
respectively. 22 “The „Varna‟system that was Dravidians was different from that Aryans.
established in ancient India functioned at the Rajendra says that superiority or inferiority
larger framework within which the caste of occupation is represented in the hierarchy
society was formed.”23 of the caste. The status of the caste depends
upon the degree of blood and the extent of
18
isolation maintained by the social group.”26
D. Manohar Chandra Prasad, Lamenting Loss and
Resisting Repression: Towards Dalit Solidarity in
Challenging Caste Oppression through Collective 6.0. Caste System in India
Laments (Bangalore: Asian Trading Corporation, India had more caste discrimination compare
2007), 1.
19
Ghanshyam Shah, “Dalits and the State: An to other nation. Tayongtemjen, says In India
Overview,” Dalit and the State (New Delhi: Concept 64 percent are Hindus, 14 percent are
Publishing Company, 2002), 23. Harijan (Dalits), 7 percent are tribal‟s 12
20
Bhagwan Das, “Dalits and the Caste System,”
Indigenous People: Dalits; Dalit Issues in Today’s percent are Muslims and 3 percent are
Theological Debate (Noida: Academy Press,1994),
56.
21 24
M. Stephen, Introducing Christian Ethics, 252. M. Stephen, Introducing Christian Ethics, 252.
22 25
M. Stephen, Introducing Christian Ethics, 252. M. Stephen, Introducing Christian Ethics, 253.
23 26
Shyamlal, Untouchable Castes in India (New Rajendra Kumar Sharma, Fundamentals Of Sociology
Delhi: Rawat Publications, 2006), 2. (New Delhi: Atlantic Publishers, 1996), 187.
4 Mr. Solomon John
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Christian. Around 2000 BC Aryans began to invade Bharatha the land of the aboriginal. From
time to time Aryans began to gain social, political and religious power by creating problems
between kingdoms of native rulers. By100 BC Aryans got the position to capture all political
power centers in north India by 600.Bc.27 Further he explains, they controlled almost all the
almost all the lands of the aboriginals. Then they divide in to four varnas or caste divisions.
In that barhmins, constituted the highest Varna took control of social through religion.
Second Kshatriyas they had the political control third Vyshyas got the economic control to
rule the people and fourth is Shudras are including women are the servants of upper caste. 28
Even if this kind of discrimination we find in the church as well. Therefore caste system is
evil, so Indian society should understand this evil practices. The below picture with chart may
give us the proper understanding. 29

27
Tayongtemjen, Introduction To The Christian Ethics, 215-216.
28
Tayongtemjen, Introduction To The Christian Ethics, 215-216.
29
“Caste system (partial) India” http://pentamento.blogspot.in/2014_06_01_archive.html

5 Mr. Solomon John

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7.0. The Caste System as a Vehicle of articulation and moulds its own design.33
Exploitation Politicians mobilize caste groupings and
identities in order to organize their power.34
It is important to distinguish two elements in
the caste system, caste as a form of group
identity and caste as a form of social 9. 0. Caste System in the Church
oppression. Caste system is not only in the Hinduism or
Basic forms of group identity built a other religion. Today caste system is seeing
various factors such as ethnicity, religion; in the Church also. The history of
region and language have existed in every Christianity of the India goes back to first
society. But the caste system became an century church onwards; the caste system
exploitative in which the dominant caste had its origin in the Church from the time of
possess the economic resources and political St. Thomas and the very beginning of
power, and this result the higher hierarchy of Christianity in the India. These Christians
the social order which was boost of the had many customs common to the Brahmins
population by the few powerful people. and were cut off from the main stream of the
Religion came in as a handy instrument to Christian world. They had their own lives
legitimize an exploitive system to make styles in the midst of non-Christians. As a
others accept it without protest. 30 result these Christians had no proper
This became the basis for all social instruction in Christian doctrine. They were
and cultural interaction in India. The also accused of practicing caste system in the
dominant class does not just exploit church. This was the beginning of the caste
economically and politically, they exercise in Indian Church. Not only that many
also a subtle ideological and cultural missionary came in India and worked among
exploitation.31 the upper castes. Even though the Christian
principles do not taught anything about caste
8.0. Casteism in Politics and Politicization system, but churches have different groups.
of Caste Stephen says, the dalits are used by the
Most of the times caste becomes an important
church and society for their selfish service
social institution of our country which gives the
and as vote banks. Also some places have
citizens a sense of belonging. Rajni Kothari says,
the caste structure provides one of the most separate churches and cemeteries built for
important organizational clusters in which the the dalits. This shows the complete
population is found to live. For the competitive discrimination.35
style of democratic politics involves not only In Kerala the Syrian Christians
distributives and conflictual aspects, but also became the oppressors by keeping caste
aspects of group actions. 32 Further he explains, discrimination in their mind. The Syrian
by drawing the caste system hit its web of Christian thinks that only high caste
organization; politics finds material for its educated people could produce intellectual
30
leadership in the Indian church and thus they
S.C Singhal, Human Rights (Agra: Lakshmi
Narain Agarwal, 2008), 8-9.
31 33
S.C Singhal, Human Rights, 8-9. Rajni Kothari, Politics In India, 230.
32 34
Rajni Kothari, Politics In India (New Delhi: Rajni Kothari, Politics In India, 230.
35
Orient Longman Ltd, 1999), 230. M. Stephen, Introducing Christian Ethics, 253.
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were small in number became the ruling among the poor and needy people. These
class in the church. But they are not poor or low caste people got the privilege to
considering the tribal and Dalits Christian. study the basic education as well as people
Therefore in Kerala caste attitude practiced got the basic awareness. Christians
in the Syrian Christians. While missionaries‟ missionary open the school for the Dalits and
introduced westerns idea of equality and the low caste. The large number of Dalits and
gospel of brotherhood and love to this lower castes jointed the church as an
society that was governed mainly by caste. objection against the Hindu religion. Later
In spite of this the influence of caste Christian movement towards the Western
remained society and with the church though educational system later gave raise to anti
the rigidity of caste rules and untouchbility Brahmin movement and the rationalist
began to disappear. Therefore, missionaries movement in south India. This Brahmin and
are worked in India and taught against this rationalist are the main struggles of the dalits
evil practice in India. 36 and lower castes. In this situation church
have some responsibility. In early day‟s caste
10.0. Biblical View and the Responsibility system was more common in Hindu and
of the Church some other religion but today we finding this
It is important that churches around our problem inside the church as well. So as a
country examine their own responses to Christian must aware that God did not made
these powerful social forces and decide how, any caste rather God create the human
theologically and socially, they must deal begins. Accept everybody equal and same.
with the issues of the relationship between Also in God there is no high caste and low
unity and diversity within the Church. Caste caste. The responsibility is needed to have
system is like apartheid. The caste identity unit among the people show good Christian
should be realized only as a community attitude towards the society.
identity and not as a means to underestimate The Bible states that all human
a group of people, discrimination and beings are created with equal dignity and no
exploitation. The Christian principle is not one is to be discriminated or exploited
to support the caste system. Most of the (Gen.1: 27, 28). In Galatians 3:28, Apostle
times the dominant groups try to enslave the Paul also says “There is neither Jew nor
low caste, exploit and oppress them for their Greek, there is neither slave nor free man,
own interest. The Dalits are used by the there is neither male or female; for you are
society for their selfish service and as vote all one in Christ Jesus.” The Christian
banks. The high caste, up lift low caste and community should be an agent of
the church has to be fight against practice of transformation in the society to challenge
caste system. Also the Dalits must be what is evil. The resources should be made
uplifted. accessible to all human beings to have
While the Christian missionary came meaningful living and development. The
to India mostly they started their work policy of the survival of the fittest is against
the teachings of the bible and the spirit of
36
Bhupen Chaudhary, Indian Caste System: Essence And Gospel. The socio-economic and political
Reality, 180-185.
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self-determination of the oppressed classes is Bibliography

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9 Mr. Solomon John