2006-07-25 09:08:51 · 9 answers · asked by pinnie 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
I'm surprised a previous responder finds the caste sytem "gay". What's gayness got to do with it? I'd have thought the gay community is above such petty divisions. Or does the brave new generation think it's cool to use "gay" to define anything that sucks in their opinion?
As for your query, it's been speculated that the orginal inhabitants of India were dark-skinned. Migrants who came in from what is believed to be central Europe (some 4000 years before Christ) could have put the caste system in place, to ensure a degree of exclusivity for themselves. Centuries of interbreeding resulted in all shades of brown, but the caste system got stratified along the way.
Naturally, kings, priests and landlords would have mostly been drawn from the newly-arrived, socially advanced sections of society. That would explain why many (but not all) of the so-called high-caste people are lighter-skinned than, say, farmers or cobblers.
Seen from that perspective, you'll realise it's not vastly different from the way the Europeans treated native Americans when they first came to America. It was easier to subjugate or assimilate native Americans because their population was sparse (unlike in the Indian subcontinent).
While any discrimination on the basis of caste is banned by law in India today, it still plays a large role in the daily life of most Indians. Indeed, the government itself favours "lower" castes for jobs etc. in an attempt at affirmative action. The system won't die out in our lifetime, but its pernicious influence has certainly weakened over the past century.
2006-07-25 09:26:59 · answer #1 · answered by The Incredulous Hulk 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At the times of the kings, people were classified into different castes-- According to the works they performed-- Royal fighters, priests, businessmen, servants & Pottery makers etc.. Its very unfortunate that caste system is politicised in India, coz' of people belonging to some caste have bigger vote bank & politicians need it. But, to young Indians there is no caste as they grow up together. Castism is not seen now-a-days in India, except from politicians. And I don't think darker skinned Indians are treated poorly. Its only some other countries who think so, but I have never in 22 years of my life seen descrimination in India on the basis of color to its own people. Maybe I live in a better part.
2006-07-25 16:21:58 · answer #2 · answered by virus_photo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its not that dark skinned ppl are treated poorly.The discrimination n INDIA is based upon the caste system.India is a country largely ruled by kings.So the ppl in india are divided into basically 4 castes.
2006-07-25 16:15:55 · answer #3 · answered by shady2pac 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In a lot of coutries people with darker shades are treated poorly. That's the way it is. It's just a worldwide standard of "beauty".
2006-07-25 16:43:44 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The caste system is NO MORE....
and btw why are some black ppl in the US treated unfairly... pretty much same reason
2006-07-25 16:12:52 · answer #5 · answered by livesmart247 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If memory serves me right the upper class never went outside in direct sunlight so there would be no need to be dark therefore causing the indifference
2006-07-25 16:14:08 · answer #6 · answered by jamie s 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
correction - its the HINDUS ur asking...
its the religion that sets castes...they have some law - upper caste, or the head, middle class - the chest, and the lower castes or untouchables - feet... so they are treated like that...
2006-07-25 16:14:04 · answer #7 · answered by lamine_3926 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i'm an indian and i belive the caste system is plainly stupid and gay.
2006-07-25 16:13:14 · answer #8 · answered by moon 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
just goto wikipedia and u will find every single detail u need
2006-07-25 16:12:39 · answer #9 · answered by amenamaruf14 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋