The Caste System: Effects on Poverty in India
Global Majority E-Journal, Vol. 1, No. 2 (December 2010), pp. 97-106
The Caste System: Effects on Poverty in
India, Nepal and Sri Lanka
Jasmine Rao
Abstract
Though mostly outlawed, the caste system continues to be one of the key drivers of poverty and inequality in South Asia. This article reviews the linkage between poverty and the caste system in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. It also discusses the situation of the so-called Dalits (untouchables), which are typically considered to fall outside of the caste system. In addition to secondary evidence based on recent literature analyzing the relevance and impact of the caste system on poverty, the article is also based on an interview with a young male Indian, who experienced the impact of the caste system as well as the impact of the recently adopted reservation system for India’s Dalits.
I.
Introduction
In India, as well as other countries in South Asia like Nepal and Sri Lanka, the caste system has been a large part of society and still remains, though to a lesser extent, to be a part of society. This may be in an official or unofficial sense because most South Asian countries have either outlawed the caste system or are trying to move away from it. The caste system is basically a way of dividing people into different social classes, beginning with Brahmins as the highest (Priests and teachers), Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers),
Vaisyas (farmers, merchants, and artisans), and Sudras (laborers); see Figure 1.
Untouchables, also known as Harijans or Dalits, fall outside of the caste system all together. These were the original caste groupings as made clear by one Hindu Holy
Scripture called the Bhagvad Gita.
Initially, the system was created ―to promote the harmonious workings of society‖, but eventually, it has—mostly through corruption—reached the prejudice and discriminationfilled system it is today (Kar, 2007). This corruption began with Colonialism and has had a profound impact
The Caste System: Effects on Poverty in
India, Nepal and Sri Lanka
Jasmine Rao
Abstract
Though mostly outlawed, the caste system continues to be one of the key drivers of poverty and inequality in South Asia. This article reviews the linkage between poverty and the caste system in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. It also discusses the situation of the so-called Dalits (untouchables), which are typically considered to fall outside of the caste system. In addition to secondary evidence based on recent literature analyzing the relevance and impact of the caste system on poverty, the article is also based on an interview with a young male Indian, who experienced the impact of the caste system as well as the impact of the recently adopted reservation system for India’s Dalits.
I.
Introduction
In India, as well as other countries in South Asia like Nepal and Sri Lanka, the caste system has been a large part of society and still remains, though to a lesser extent, to be a part of society. This may be in an official or unofficial sense because most South Asian countries have either outlawed the caste system or are trying to move away from it. The caste system is basically a way of dividing people into different social classes, beginning with Brahmins as the highest (Priests and teachers), Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers),
Vaisyas (farmers, merchants, and artisans), and Sudras (laborers); see Figure 1.
Untouchables, also known as Harijans or Dalits, fall outside of the caste system all together. These were the original caste groupings as made clear by one Hindu Holy
Scripture called the Bhagvad Gita.
Initially, the system was created ―to promote the harmonious workings of society‖, but eventually, it has—mostly through corruption—reached the prejudice and discriminationfilled system it is today (Kar, 2007). This corruption began with Colonialism and has had a profound impact
References: Banerjee, Abhijit; Esther Duflo; Maitreesh Ghatak; and Jeanne Lafortune (2009) ―Marry for what: caste and mate selection in modern India‖, National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), Working Paper Series, No. 14958. Chaudhary, S. N. (ed.) (2005) Human Rights and Poverty in India: Theoretical Issues and Empirical Evidences (New Delhi: Concept Publishers, 5 Volumes). 105 Heitzman, James (1990) ―The Society and Its Environment‖, in: Russel R Kar, Dev (2007) ―Religion and Roots of India’s Caste System‖, The Washington Post (of July 1, 2007). Kumar, Sanjay (2006) ―Is India Rising?‖, World Press blog of March 2, 2006; available at: http://indiarising.wordpress.com/2006/03/02/common-problem-in-india/ Ninian, Alex (2008) ―India’s Untouchables: The Dalits‖, Contemporary Review, Vol. 290 (May), pp Pye, Lucian W. (2002) ―(Review of:) Castes of Mind: Colonialism and the Making of Modern India, by Nicholas B Rose, Arnold M. (1967) ―Sociological Factors Affecting Economic Development in India‖, Studies in Comparative International Development, Vol Silva, Kalinga Tudor and Ajith Hettihewage (2001) ―Poverty, Social Exclusion and the Impact of Selected Legal Measures against Caste Discrimination in South Asia‖; Shrestha, Anita (2002) ―Dalits in Nepal: Story of Discrimination‖, Asia-Pacific News, Vol Standing, Hilary and R. L. Strivat (2007) ―Untouchables, Harijans‖, Believe (Religious Information Source web-site, May); available at: http://mb-soft.com/believe/txo/ Thekaekara, Mari Marcel (2005) ―Combatting Caste‖, New Internationalist, Vol. 380 (July); available at: http://www.newint.org/features/2005/07/01/combatting_caste/. Waldman, Amy (2005) ―Mystery of India 's Poverty: Can the State Break Its Grip?‖, New York Times, Letter from Asia, April 29, 2005. World Bank (2008) World Development Indicators 2008 CD-Rom (Washington, DC: The World Bank). World Bank (2009a) Global Monitoring Report 2009: A Development Emergency (Washington, DC: The World Bank); available at: World Bank (2009b) Poverty in Nepal (Washington, DC: The World Bank); available at: http://go.worldbank.org/YYS66H6UK0. World Bank (2009c) Poverty in Sri Lanka (Washington, DC: The World Bank); available at: http://go.worldbank.org/WDS0EV8GT0.