caste system

I think what Britain did was disrespectful but that’s how they are. They went all over the world, and did the same thing they did in India, trying to change their lifestyle, religion, etc.
I respect the caste system, it’s their way of life, but I don’t like it myself as an individual born outside of India. You can only become something if you are born in a certain caste. You can only marry someone if your both born in the same cast etc.
I think people should be free to do whatever they want.

Ganesh Vanvani
10b

Casta!

The word 'caste' derives from the Portuguese word 'casta' literally meaning: race/breed. The caste system was introduced in India during the 1600s mainly by the Rigvedic people, and had been put into practice before the British arrived (think circa 1612), however; a system like this could be found in Hindu scriptures. When the British started to have more power (thanks to the fragility of the Mughal Empire), and as the years went by Britain's influence was remarkable, and people like, Ram Mohun Roy, wanted to reform the way the caste system worked. The caste system was split up into 5 different groups, the lowest ranking people were the outcastes/untouchables (aka Pariah), to the skilled workers which were in the middle (aka Vaisyas) and the highest ranking people being the priests (aka Brahmins). Each of the 5 groups was to stay in their own groups, marry to the people in their own groups, etc. The caste system can easily be compared to the system that the French had set up (Estates) before the French Revolution took place. You had the clergy, nobles and the rest of the people, even though their Estate system worked differently than the Caste system, there was still a kind of discrimination of where and from who you were born.

One could easily argue that the British were right for reforming the caste system that was in place in India, but someone could just as easily disagree. This is something that is hard to give a straight forward answer to. I agree, the caste system, before the British tried to reform it, was horrible, and I can't imagine living in something that restricted me from hanging out, or marrying other people outside of my 'breed/race'; but then again, it IS their religion and it was fine the way it was before the British showed up. It kept peace within the levels of society, and it kept a sense of order. The question of right or wrong is hard to answer for myself. It's like asking if the Arabs should give equal rights to women if it isn't in their religion, and if they don't know any better; how could it possibly be right or wrong? I suppose that the British were wrong in trying to reform the caste system, simply because the Indians were living in peace and had established this as a way of life before the British came venturing along and the Indians just didn't know any better. But then again I don't want to live in a society that restricts me from doing something that I want to, and I wouldn't want others to have to be restricted, and there I would disagree. One does have to come to the realization however, that we also live in a society in which we divide ourselves into groups. Not only in high school, where you have the preps, emos, jocks, nerds, and rebels; but also in the world itself. We've establish a kind of 'caste system' ourselves in which the rich marry the rich (they don't HAVE to, but why would a rich person marry an average person?), and the poor marry the poor (once again, they don't HAVE to, but why would anybody want to marry a malnourished, AIDS infected person if they can marry a well off person, let's be honest here for a second). Therefore, I believe that the British were wrong with reforming the caste system. Look at India now and there are still classes, and there is even a split in Hindus and Muslims.

-- Sara de Jong
10A

The Caste System. Mikey Ganga

That's an easy question with an easy answer!
What ever happened or what ever is planning to happen, you just can not change an other cultures rules or mess with their religion(s). I know that the English people only tried to help them in a way they thought it would be good. But you can't think that people will be happy or agree with it if someone came in and just changed everything. I think the Britain people would have started a war if the France or some other country would have came in to there land to tell them how to live their lives.

By,
Mikey Ganga

The caste System

The caste system is something that is very important to the Indians because that's how they live and follow there religion and how they think. I think that the British were wrong because you should let people believe in what they want and think of it how they want.




By:Hatem El Hage

Britain take away India Caste System (Phaedra)

I have mixed feelings about this topic, because I feel a great deal of respect to all religions and their views, so I think that other people should do the same. And for Britain to pass laws to reform the caste system, is somewhat disrespectful. Yes, I don't agree with the way it is set up, but maybe that's how they want it to be. On the other hand, although I respect the caste system I do not agree with it. One main thing I think is unfair is the fact that you can't change the caste you are in, you can't go higher or lower (unless it is the king or administrations order). And that isn't really fair in the sense that if I'm an untouchable and I work my butt of to provide for my kids, maybe open a business or two, even though I work for all of this, I still won't be eligible to be nothing else than an untouchable, just because I was born one.

The Caste System By: Amrit Khatwani

People! The British were wrong when they passed the law to reform the Caste System. It is totally wrong! Would you like if anybody steps up to you and tell you that we are going to tell you what religion and class you are from? Would you like that they insulted your class and "reassign" you a new class? That is like losing yourself respect and dignity people. I think what they did was wrong. Oh yea, one more thing to add, when the system was changed, they would tell you how to live there type of lifestyle, they tell you what to wear and what not, and they would mistreat you. So think about it, would like to live there lifestyle and lose your respect, or go against those Britis and live the life and follow the system how it is meant to follow.

What is a 'caste' system? - Stephen Fahey 10B

A caste system is a type of social structure that divides people into groups by being based on social status through inheritance. And in this type of class, people are supposedly only allowed to interact and marry other people within their same social class, but it’s not always like that. And India is very well known for having a system set up like this for its people. Caste mobility is extremely rare, and its first tendency is endogamy, meaning people only marry within the same caste. Typically, higher castes hold the most power, much like being very wealthy in the United States. And even though the caste system is mainly referred to being with India but also Portugal has its own type of caste system as well, the word being casta. And the word in English is meant to mean breeding or race. When India started to use the caste system in the 1600’s, it was also known as a caste system in Portugal. Castes are also divided by

· Language

· Culture

· Economics

And within each caste system, everyone generally knows his/her place as your own social status is said to be known to over people as well.

And Britain tried to go against it and I personally think that was wrong because the caste system seemed to work for India and it still works today, many years later. And also when tampering with a foreign countries religion, systems, culture etc... it tends to almost or nearly impossible to reclaim/get back. The British wanted India to be like them, wear their clothes, speak their language, same education, same religion, same habits and India didn't really want to take part in that. And Britain also seen the caste system in a sense of racism, and low morals for the standing of Indian peoples wealth/economic standings.