The document discusses the Hindu concept of dharma. It explains that dharma means behaving according to one's essential nature, like fire burning or water flowing. For humans, dharma means acting in accordance with the spirit of God within. The document then asks the reader to reflect on their duties and responsibilities at different stages of life, from teenager to older age. It outlines the four ashramas or stages of life in Hinduism - student, householder, hermit, and wandering ascetic. The reader is assigned homework to research the caste system and Purusha.
Societal Analysis and Development Alternatives - Final PresentationSampad Acharya
The document discusses the origins and evolution of the caste system in India. It traces the caste system back to the Aryan invasion of India in 1500 BC, where the Aryans divided society into a hierarchical system. Over time, thousands of castes and sub-castes developed. The caste system was characterized by social and religious hierarchy, endogamy, hereditary occupations, and untouchability. While caste-based discrimination has reduced, caste still influences politics and social issues like reservation and identity politics in India. The document examines possible ways to further eradicate casteism, such as promoting exogamy, removing caste names, and scrapping surnames.