Caste System: Social Classes in India

Harappa in 3D by artist Chris Sloan

Harappa civilization was a significant prehistory of northwestern India. Located along the River Indus, it is one of the urban excavation site uncovered by archaeologists in the 1920's. As mentioned in both Bresnan chapter one: India before the Vedas and the video Indus: The Unvoiced Civilization, these people left very little behind about their culture. Harappa along with other cities within the Indus Valley Civilization was as mentioned by Ancient History, "in its prime, but also of preceding and succeeding culture."

Not much is known about the people of Harappa. As indicated by Bresnan, the people of Harappa "eventually declined and almost entirely died out." Similarly, the video Indus: The Unvoiced Civilization, stated "when the water dried up, the cities were abandoned." From these two sources, the theory as to why the city of Harappa no longer exists may be due to the Sarasvati River drying out, which may have been their source of life.

Caste System - highest to lowest ranking from top to bottom

Although Harappa is known to be one of the earliest form of urbanization in India, India flourished into its own nation and carried on historical rituals, traditions, and social life learned from generation after generation. Varna, the caste system, or social classes divides Hindus into five categories. This determination is based on their birth, wealth, or profession. Ranked from most important to least, there are the Brahman, Ksatriya, Vaisya, Sudra, and Dalit. 

Caste system is something new to me and I have never been informed of such social class existing in India. Even though caste system was never mentioned in the Indus: The Unvoiced Civilization, it is considered to be an important aspect of India. Caste system may have been brought into India's society after the declined of Harappa. Brensnan mentioned that "the caste system was formally renounced in the Indian constitution of 1949"; however, the video India's Dalit: Twist of Faith showcased that social classes still exist. So, is caste system still practiced in India? 

Dalit in India

Having been able to get a glimpse of how the way caste system work in India, it helped me better understand Indian culture and tradition. Most Indians are in the dalit social class. They have a lot of hardship because of having to work in sewers and being exposed to dangerous gases and bacteria, which is an unhealthy occupation. It's very saddening that most of them are illiterate, even writing their own name is difficult to do. In spite of the fact that caste system was renounced, it may be challenging to discard of what's been carried on from generation after generation. 

Bresnan, Patrick. "Chapter 1." Awakening: an Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought. 5th ed., Pearson, 2013, pp. 7–7.

India’s Dalits: Twist if Faith. 2009.

Indus: The Unvoiced Civilization. Princeton, NJ, 2003.