Caste system is a system of defining class or assigning status to individuals from the time of birth. In India, the caste system is mainly profession based. India has been a victim of caste system since ages.
The causes, effects and solutions of Caste system in India are discussed below:
Causes: The main reason behind the growth of Caste system in India is the assignment of caste based on job specialization. There were different types of jobs in the society which were done by the people based on their capability. This division of job based on specialization resulted into caste system.
Four classes of Caste system: The four classes includes:
- The Brahmins – the priestly class. They were mainly engaged in religious and priestly activities. They were also appointed as advisors to the Kings.
- The Kshatriyas – the warrior and ruler class. They were mainly engaged in warfare activities.
- The Vaishyas – the trader class. They were mainly engaged in business, agriculture, and trading activities.
- The Sudras – the lowest of the four traditional class engaged as domestic servants and laborers, etc.
Negative effects of Caste system: Caste system has many disadvantages such as:
- Encourages untouchability,
- Promotes Inequality,
- Undemocratic in nature,
- Fake differentiation in superiority and inferiority.
- Increases gap between upper and lower caste people.
Caste system is also a danger towards the National integration of the country. Caste system is a major cause for many inhuman and immoral social practices such as untouchability, child marriage, sati system, prostitution, etc.
Solution:
- Education will help the people to become aware of the disadvantages of Caste system.
- There is a need for widespread social change in favor of equality of human-beings. Caste system can be discouraged through social education in rural areas.
- There should be special classes at schools that imparts value and moral education to the children.
- Superstitious people are extremely fearful and discourage any change in social norms. Education will help shed away superstition, which in turn, will help shed casteism as well.
- With better education and economic progress, people belonging to diverse caste get opportunity to mix and work together. Many of them become friends while working together on a project.