Although much of the caste system was defined by early Hindu Scriptures the system became what we know it as today under colonial rule. A caste system is a way of dividing a society into differently ranked tiers of people. Caste what is it?Р”Р‡irst of all, some background. The fact that the issue of caste is once again of political significance has more to do with the fight to end extreme poverty than you would think. After the leader of the protests, 22 year old Hardik Patel, was arrested the protests turned unruly- nine people were killed in violent clashes, more were injured and a curfew was instigated. Rather, members of the affluent Patel caste were demonstrating about the РІР‚ВreservationРІР‚в„ў system which guarantees government jobs to members of minority communities, arguing that they are being unfairly chewed out of opportunities and deserved their own reservations.

By the end, 30 people had been killed while clashing with the police, buildings were burned, and canals damaged.Last week more than 500,000 people in Indian Prime Minister Narendra ModiРІР‚в„ўs home state of Gujarat took to the streets to protest what they saw as the unfairness of IndiaРІР‚в„ўs caste system, but not for the reasons you would expect. In February 2016, the Jats, a well-off group of farmers and traders from Northern India, protested. РІР‚Сљ Outbreaks of violent protests have raked into an ugly spotlight the views of those people who are dissatisfied with affirmative action,РІР‚Сњ CNN writes. What about the deadly protests against the caste system? Mahatma Gandhi fought for the rights of the Dalits, calling them Harijans, or the Children of God. The constitution banned discrimination on the basis of caste, and, in an attempt to correct historical injustices and provide a level playing field to the traditionally disadvantaged, the authorities announced quotas in government jobs and educational institutions for the lowest castes.Р”В«y 1990, the quota rose to just under 50%, applying to groups the government classified by such charming names as РІР‚СљOther Backward Classes,РІР‚Сњ РІР‚СљScheduled CastesРІР‚Сњ and РІР‚СљScheduled Tribes.РІР‚Сњ IsnРІР‚в„ўt the caste system supposed to have been abolished? РІР‚СљBrahmins were considered to be pure, wise and gentle Kshatriyas were linked with anger, pleasure and boldness Vaishyas were deemed to be hard-working people living off the plough and Shudras were associated with violence and impurity, worthy of contempt.РІР‚Сњ The ancient texts helped perpetuate stereotypes about each caste, the Logical Indian reports. If it sounds awful, it was: The caste system trapped people into a social stratification they couldnРІР‚в„ўt escape from. РІР‚СљThe upper and lower castes almost always lived in segregated colonies, the water wells were not shared, Brahmins would not accept food or drink from the Shudras, and one could marry only within oneРІР‚в„ўs caste,РІР‚Сњ according to the BBC. This social stratification might go back even further than that, according to The Logical Indian: The site states that the first mention was called РІР‚Сљthe Varna systemРІР‚Сњ and was in the Rig Veda, an ancient Indian hymnal believed to have been written between 1500 and 800 BCE. It РІР‚Сљacknowledges and justifies the caste system as the basis of order and regularity of society.РІР‚Сњ This tome, dating back to 1000 BCE or more, is widely regarded to be the most important and authoritative book on Hindu law, the BBC reports. It was written in the book - the Manusmriti, that is. These castes get broken down into subsets as well by region.

Indian caste system