Caste System– An Indian Rather Than a Hindu Phenomenon

The caste system is beyond Hindu society and it exists in all religions in India.

The Muslims who came to the subcontinent during the 12th century were already divided into social classes such as priests, nobles and others. Further, a racial segregation demarcated the local Muslim converts from those of foreign origin. The foreigners claimed a superior status as they were associated with the conquerors, and categorized themselves as Ashraf ("noble"). Over time, the Indian Muslim society also split on the basis of the existing Hindu caste system. As per Ghaus Mohiuddin Ansari, a scholar of urban anthropologist of international acclaim, there are following broad categories of Muslim social divisions in India [See Ghaus Ansari (1960) “Muslim Caste in Uttar Pradesh: A Study of Culture Contact”]:

ASHRAF

• upper-class Muslims who claim foreign-origin descent from Afghans, Arabs, Persians, Turks etc. E.g. Mughal, Pathan, Sayyid, Sheikh

AJLAF

• who converted to Islam to escape India’s caste system Converts from upper caste Hindus, E.g. Muslim Rajputs; and
• Converts from other "clean" castes, E.g. Darzi, Dhobi, Dhuniya, Gaddi, Faqir, Hajjam (Nai), Julaha, Kabaria, Kumhar, Kunjra, Mirasi, Manihar, Teli

ARZAL

• Converts from untouchable castes, lowest caste of Hindus, E.g. Bhangi

Indian law does not provide benefits for "Untouchable Christians", however Christians have been agitating for the same rights given to Hindu, Buddhist, and Sikh Scheduled castes. Justice KG Balakrishnan a former Chief Justice of India had asked: "Could the Christians admit that they practise caste system and that Dalits (among them) face social discrimination requiring reservation to uplift their cause? This is not all that easy. The caste system among Indian Christians often reflects stratification by sect, location, and the castes of their predecessors. [Encyclopaedia Britannica]

There are separate seats, separate communion cups, burial grounds, and churches for members of the lower castes [Webster, John. 1994, The Christian Dalits: A History] especially in the Latin Catholic Church. Catholic churches in India are largely controlled by upper caste priests and nuns. Presently in India, more than 70 per cent of Latin Catholics are Dalits, but the higher caste Catholics (30% by estimates) control 90 per cent of the Catholic churches administrative jobs. As per www.dalitchristians.com, out of the 156 catholic bishops, only six are from lower castes.

Does America have a caste system? Surely, at least while camping!

Read-on: https://www.noted.co.nz/life/travel/discovering-the-caste-system-in-american-camping/

 

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