Rajaram Hegde, Professor â Centre for the Study of Local Cultures, Kuvempu University
(Shimoga, India)
Fictitious Connections. Caste system and Hinduism
The caste system is generally considered to be an integral part of Hinduism, sustained through the
varna division, the Brahmanical priesthood, and an ideology provided by the Hindu texts. In this
presentation, we will attempt to examine to what extent the aspects of the classical account of the
caste system and its relation to Hinduism, correspond with the empirical reality. To do this we will
draw on the findings of an extensive fieldwork project into caste, community and tradition in
Karnataka.
We chose to test the awareness of the members of different jati groups in several villages in
Karnataka about some of the central aspects of the general descriptions of the caste system: (1) are
the different groups aware of the doctrines which the caste system is supposedly based on? (2) Do
these jatis know the contents of the sacred texts in which these doctrines can be found? (4) Do the
jati groups classify all groups in Indian society in terms of a hierarchy and do they consistently refer
to the same hierarchy (of the caste system)? (5) Are the Brahmins generally recognised as an
influential and powerful priesthood and does this priesthood know the tenets of its own religion?
In answer to these and more questions, we received a set of surprising responses: Except a few
Brahmin pundits, the term varna was not understood by most of the informants. The so-called
Brahmin priests are also unable to relate jati practices to any specific text or varna system. Informants
told almost unanimously that they are following their ancestral practices and did not refer to a
religious belief system or prescriptive text. The origin stories of the different groups merely tell us a
story about this group in particular and not about society as a whole. Moreover, the respondents
failed to locate themselves systematically within a hierarchical arrangement of caste and sub-caste
groups. We also could not observe the Brahmanical priesthood acting as an authoritative group,
controlling the practices of the other jati groups.
In brief, in this paper we will analyse some of the central aspects of the classical account of the caste
system in view of the results of our fieldwork to see to what extent these descriptions help or do not
help us in understanding the structure of the Indian society.
A. Shanmukha, Lecturer â Centre for the Study of Local Cultures, Kuvempu University
The Practice of Untouchability and Hinduism
The classical text book stories, from the colonial writers to the modern 21st century writers, argue
that the practice of untouchability is generated by the caste system, which is based on Hinduism. <b>This
presentation attempts to show that these kinds of arguments neither identify the root of the problem,
nor give any sensible solutions for them.
The classical accounts of the caste system and the practice of untouchability assume that Hinduism is
a religion and that Manu Dharma Shastra, Purusha Sukta, etc. are its sacred texts. These texts, the
classical descriptions hold, have given birth to the Varna system which has later generated the caste
system. It is said that it is the belief system of the Indian religion that compels its people to practice
untouchability.
If one uses the above descriptions to understand and explain the problem of untouchability then one
has to show that people who practice untouchability believe that these textual doctrines are sacred
and that they follow them in their daily life. In our empirical investigation in the State of Karnataka,
we have found that some castes do experience some kinds of discrimination in hotels, public wells or
taps, in the work place, etc. However, our fieldwork has shown that both those who practice
untouchability (or certain kinds of inter-caste discriminations) and those who have been victims of
untouchability have not even heard of the so-called sacred texts. Even if they have heard of them,
they do not feel that these texts are sacred, nor are they following their doctrines.
Thus, our field experience shows that there is hardly any evidence to prove that the practice of
untouchability is generated by the Indian social structure, i.e. the caste system, which is based on a
religion, namely Hinduism.</b>
http://www.cultuurwetenschap.be/conference...ns%20080111.pdf
(Shimoga, India)
Fictitious Connections. Caste system and Hinduism
The caste system is generally considered to be an integral part of Hinduism, sustained through the
varna division, the Brahmanical priesthood, and an ideology provided by the Hindu texts. In this
presentation, we will attempt to examine to what extent the aspects of the classical account of the
caste system and its relation to Hinduism, correspond with the empirical reality. To do this we will
draw on the findings of an extensive fieldwork project into caste, community and tradition in
Karnataka.
We chose to test the awareness of the members of different jati groups in several villages in
Karnataka about some of the central aspects of the general descriptions of the caste system: (1) are
the different groups aware of the doctrines which the caste system is supposedly based on? (2) Do
these jatis know the contents of the sacred texts in which these doctrines can be found? (4) Do the
jati groups classify all groups in Indian society in terms of a hierarchy and do they consistently refer
to the same hierarchy (of the caste system)? (5) Are the Brahmins generally recognised as an
influential and powerful priesthood and does this priesthood know the tenets of its own religion?
In answer to these and more questions, we received a set of surprising responses: Except a few
Brahmin pundits, the term varna was not understood by most of the informants. The so-called
Brahmin priests are also unable to relate jati practices to any specific text or varna system. Informants
told almost unanimously that they are following their ancestral practices and did not refer to a
religious belief system or prescriptive text. The origin stories of the different groups merely tell us a
story about this group in particular and not about society as a whole. Moreover, the respondents
failed to locate themselves systematically within a hierarchical arrangement of caste and sub-caste
groups. We also could not observe the Brahmanical priesthood acting as an authoritative group,
controlling the practices of the other jati groups.
In brief, in this paper we will analyse some of the central aspects of the classical account of the caste
system in view of the results of our fieldwork to see to what extent these descriptions help or do not
help us in understanding the structure of the Indian society.
A. Shanmukha, Lecturer â Centre for the Study of Local Cultures, Kuvempu University
The Practice of Untouchability and Hinduism
The classical text book stories, from the colonial writers to the modern 21st century writers, argue
that the practice of untouchability is generated by the caste system, which is based on Hinduism. <b>This
presentation attempts to show that these kinds of arguments neither identify the root of the problem,
nor give any sensible solutions for them.
The classical accounts of the caste system and the practice of untouchability assume that Hinduism is
a religion and that Manu Dharma Shastra, Purusha Sukta, etc. are its sacred texts. These texts, the
classical descriptions hold, have given birth to the Varna system which has later generated the caste
system. It is said that it is the belief system of the Indian religion that compels its people to practice
untouchability.
If one uses the above descriptions to understand and explain the problem of untouchability then one
has to show that people who practice untouchability believe that these textual doctrines are sacred
and that they follow them in their daily life. In our empirical investigation in the State of Karnataka,
we have found that some castes do experience some kinds of discrimination in hotels, public wells or
taps, in the work place, etc. However, our fieldwork has shown that both those who practice
untouchability (or certain kinds of inter-caste discriminations) and those who have been victims of
untouchability have not even heard of the so-called sacred texts. Even if they have heard of them,
they do not feel that these texts are sacred, nor are they following their doctrines.
Thus, our field experience shows that there is hardly any evidence to prove that the practice of
untouchability is generated by the Indian social structure, i.e. the caste system, which is based on a
religion, namely Hinduism.</b>
http://www.cultuurwetenschap.be/conference...ns%20080111.pdf