It is very difficult to settle the exact starting point of a social system which gradually emerges and develops over a long period of time. It is also correct with regard to the caste system in India. It is believed that the first lot of bipeds came to western India from Africa. So long they were food gatherers, there was no factional group. When they started becoming food producers in the Neolithic period, there developed tribal groups. Tribes are the forefathers of castes. These first agricultural societies needed the services of weavers, metal-smiths, ploughmen and several other professionals and then men started being known by the professional groups, they belonged to.
It is on the record that the Vedas came into existence between 1,500 and 1,000 BC. For centuries they were learnt only after hearing from the preceptors. Much later they were reduced to writing, in course of which, several interpolations might have taken place. The first reference to Varna (caste) is found in the Purush Sookta of the Rigveda which mentions that the Brahmanas from the mouth, Kshatriyas from the chest, Vaishyas from the thigh and the Shudras from the feet of the Lord were born. The Brahmanas had academic and ritual duty, Kshatriyas martial art, Vaishyas trade and Shudras were allotted manual labour. As a matter of fact, this professional stratification was not strict like modern endogamic castes. In the Rigveda, a person says that while he is a scholar, his father is a physician and the mother grinds grains. The Indologists like Max Muller and Ambedkar treat it as a subsequent interpolation by the compilers of the written texrs.
Megasthenes, the Greek ambassador in Chandragupta Maurya’s court, writing in his Indika in 2nd century BC tells that the Indian society had seven castes, namely philosophers, peasants, herdsmen, craftsmen/traders, soldiers, govt officials and councillors. Around the same period, the Manusmriti codified the four- caste system after which it started becoming stricter. Even the concept of untouchability started taking its root. During the Gupta period, the upper castes became highly preponderant. After the arrival of Muslims, followed by the Western Christians who practiced religious conversion, the Hindu society avoided interactions with them and remained engrossed in their caste based society. During the British period several religious and social reformists emerged in Bengal and Maharashtra region who tried to remove caste system, sati and other such remnants of blind faith.
In the independent India, caste system was stopped in 1950. Similarly scavenging was banished in 1993. However, it is very difficult to stop any social practice just by the stroke of a pen. It developed in a long period and will go out slowly. Nevertheless, it must be acknowledged that the origin of castes is based on profession. Since professions will always live, the professional groups will remain there. Moreover, like the birth based castes, profession based groups will also be determined by birth. Ranbir Kapoor is in the fourth generation of film industry. I have seen about 25 members in the Kapoor family and none has made a mark in other fields. Rahul Gandhi is in the fifth generation of a political family. Somehow or other, all members have found it easy to shine in politics only. Kapil Sibbal’s father was an eminent advocate, having a good legal firm. Kapil used this already prepared springboard to make his career and succeeded in performing accordingly. Today his son is also in the same profession and running that firm. Yhe entire family of Karunanidhi is in politics. You talk about other business families of Tatas, Ambanis, Mahindras, Bajajs and Birlas, they are all profession based. You say Tata, and the world will know that they are steelmen. Name Mittal and again steel industry comes to your mind. You name Nehru/Gandhi and men will understand that they belong to political community.
To conclude, ever since the human society started, professional groups emerged. Without such trade and labour based classes, the nation cannot run. You can only change the names and not the system. However, the nation requires these groups to be liberal with no untouchability and no endogamous marriages. Any idea of water-tight compartments brings chaos while the motherland requires unity.
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