The document discusses the definition, origin, and characteristics of the caste system in India. It defines caste as a group whose membership is based on birth and prohibits marrying outside the group. It describes the traditional characteristics of the caste system as the hierarchical and segmented division of society, restrictions on social relations and occupations between castes, and endogamous marriage. Theories on the origin of caste discussed include it having divine origins in Hindu texts, arising from occupational differences, racial differences between Aryan and Dravidian peoples, or being a new concept produced by British censuses.

1. CASTE DISCRIMINATION IN
INDIA

2. INTRODUCTION

3. DEFINITION AND ORIGIN OF THE WORD “CASTE”
 ORIGIN OF WORD “CASTE”: The views of S.V. Ketkar seem to be authentic regarding the origin of the word “caste” According to him, the word
'Caste' is of Spanish and Portuguese origin. It has emerged from the Spanish word "Casta" which means 'lineage' or 'race'. The word 'Casta' is derived from the
Latin word "Castus" which means 'pure'. The Spaniards were the first to use it, but its Indian application is from the Portuguese. The word "caste" however, was,
not used in its Indian sense till the 17th century. The Indian usage is the leading one now, and it has influenced all other usages.
 DEFINITION OF CASTE
 Caste is so complex a phenomenon which is difficult to define, writer and scholars are not unanimous in their opinion regarding caste hence it
does not have a single definition
 Ketkar : "A caste is a group having two characteristics; (i) membership is confined to those who are born of members and includes all persons so born, (ii) the
members are forbidden by an inexorable social law to marry outside the group”.
 Sir Herbert Risley: Caste is a "collection of families, bearing a common name, claiming a common descent, from a mythical ancestor, human and divine,
professing to follow the same héreditary calling and regarded by those who are competent to give an opinion as forming a single homogeneous community."

4. TRADITIONAL CHARACTERISTIC OF CASTE
The caste system is highly complex in nature. As Dr. G.S. Ghurye describes six main characteristics of caste in his
work "Caste and Race in India." The following are the main traditional features of the caste system. the 6 main
features are:-
 SEGMENTAL DIVISIN OF SOCIETY: Acc. To him the Indian society is divided into various segments called caste and it is
not a homogeneous society.
 HIERARCHICAL DIVISION OF SOCIETY: The society is a gradational one and it is divided in various small groups with a
sense of highness and lowness with this gradation.
 RESTRICTION ON FEEDING AND SOCIAL RELATION: The caste system has imposed restriction on food habits of the
members that who should accept what kind of food and from whom and also on the range of social relation.
 CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS DISABILITIES AND PRIVILEGES OF DIFFERENT SECTIONS: The high caste have
privileges over the low caste and before independence low case people were in a way born to serve the
high caste.
 RESTRICTION ON OCCUPATIONAL CHOICE: In the caste-ridden society there is a gradation of occupations also.
Some occupations are considered to be superior and sacred while certain others branded as degrading and inferior. For a
long time, occupations were very much associated with the caste system. Each caste had its own specific occupation. The
caste members were expected to continue the same occupations. Occupations Were almost hereditary. like Weaving, shoe-
making, oil-grinding, sweeping, scavenging were associated with lower caste.
 RESTRICTION ON MARIIAGE: The caste system imposes restrictions on matriage also. Caste is an
endogamous group. Endogamy is a rule of marriage according to which an individual has to marry within
his or her group. Each caste is sub-divided into several sub-castes, which are again endogamous.

5. THEORIES OF ORIGIN OF CASTE
 Origin of the caste system is one of the most complex issues in sociological discussions. It is very difficult to say
in precise terms the exact way in which the caste system originated. some of the scholars have established their
own theories regarding it. Some of them can be mentioned:
 TRADITIONAL THEORY: According to this theory, the caste system is of divine origin. It says the caste system is
an extension of the varna system, where the 4 varnas originated from the body of Bramha.
 OCCUPATIONAL THEORY: Caste hierarchy is according to the occupation. Those professions which were
regarded as better and respectable made the persons who performed them superior to those who were
engaged in dirty professions.
 RACIAL THEORY: The champions of this theory contend that the division into castes is founded on an original
diversity of races. These scholars are of the opinion that caste came into p practice after the Aryans settled down
in India. The difference between the Aryans and the non-Aryans [or Dravidians] was so prominent that it gave
birth to different caste groups.
 COLONIAL CENSUS AND BIRTH OF CASTE:- that caste, as conceived in contemporary academic writings or within the
policies of the state, is a new idea and that this idea of caste was produced towards the end of the 19th century in the course
of and because of the census operations.