caste

[Guest guest]

1.The defining characteristic of a caste group is endogamy.People of a caste

marry among themselves.

2.There are two diagnostics of caste hierarchy;food and daughters.Girls are not

married off into castes considered lower in hierarchy. Similarly cooked food is

not acceped from the L castes.

3. Caste hierarchy does not mean that "lower" castes would like to have

matrimonial alliance with the " uppers"

4.The ancient Varna system,now defunct,is distinct from the caste syste.

Dictionary meaning of terms like Kayastha, modak,etc., suggests tthat some (not

all (castes formed through intermarriage between older Varnas.

6. it is likely that castes like Khatris and Kamboj in Punjab and sood in hills

preserve ethnic memories.

6.Because of endogamy condition, caste system requires a large population for

its sustenance.

The British in their time and now the Mandal Commission have increased caste

consciouness.They have not created castes.

 

Rajesh Kochhar

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

INDOLOGY, "Rajesh Kochhar" <rkk@N...> wrote:

 

> 4.The ancient Varna system,now defunct,is distinct from the caste

syste.

 

> The British in their time and now the Mandal Commission have

increased caste consciouness.They have not created castes.

 

 

RESPONSE:

 

I agree with the first statement quoted above. (Please see "Gita and

Varna" at:

http://www.infinityfoundation.com/ECITcaste3frameset.htm

 

Regarding the second statement, the question arises as to who created

caste? If its not the varna of ancient times, and if the

British/Mandala Commission merely exacerbated it, then what are its

SOCIAL origins? Note, that the social history is quite independent of

theological requirements, although all societies have invoked texts

to justify social engineering.