Caste system in India

The caste system in India

The caste system in India is very complicated.

The caste system in India was actually “invented” by one of the important figures in the ancient history of the country, legislator Manu. He formulated a more or less natural order of men by natural, ethical and psychological evolution. The caste system in India as formulated by Manu consisted of four groups: the Sudras were those who were involved in physical work, the Vaisyas were generally traders, the Kshatriyas were warriors and administrators and those specialised in religion and spiritual matters were the Brahmins.

Manu’s social order was never intended to be based on birth, only on merit and personal qualification. However, with the centuries, the caste system of India evolved (degraded) into a system where social and religious positions are determined only by birth. And this social status can’t be changed.

Today, the caste system of India still has the division in 4 main groups: Sudras, Vaisyas, Kshatriyas and Brahmins. Apart from these 4 groups there are hundreds of sub-castes. The system is so complicated that not even Indians will be able to explain the whole picture. The system, obviously, has many negative aspects and many politicians, like Nehru and Gandhi e.g., have made important changes in it. In fact the system is (theoretically) illegal now.

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