While discussing about reservations in Indian system, my friends told me that it is okay to give reservations for Shudras. I asked him, what do you mean by Shudra? My friends said, weren't they untouchables?
Often we don't know the history or remember some part of it. The above information might have come from false interpretation or limited knowledge. In my history classes, I never taught about the actual history of India. The actual history of India is not well written and highly speculative. All we know for sure that there was a system existed in India. There was Varna system and caste system. Caste are different from Varna. This must be well understood. People often mix here. They think Varna and Caste system are same. They are not same, may be mixed but not same. Varna is basic division of then society in four major parts,
- Brahmin (mainly priests, scholors)
- Kshatriya(kings, warriors)
- Vaishya(traders)
- Sudra(craftsmen, labourer)
Castes are endogamous groups which may sub-divided in sub-caste.
But the untouchables are not part of any of this. They are simply outcaste. Anyone outside the then society and not in varnas are outcaste, chandaal.
Untouchables or even the shadow of them were considered unpure.
The outcastes are below sudra and not a part of society. So next time if you hear someone is confusing between shudra and untouchable, tell them the reality.
Often we don't know the history or remember some part of it. The above information might have come from false interpretation or limited knowledge. In my history classes, I never taught about the actual history of India. The actual history of India is not well written and highly speculative. All we know for sure that there was a system existed in India. There was Varna system and caste system. Caste are different from Varna. This must be well understood. People often mix here. They think Varna and Caste system are same. They are not same, may be mixed but not same. Varna is basic division of then society in four major parts,
- Brahmin (mainly priests, scholors)
- Kshatriya(kings, warriors)
- Vaishya(traders)
- Sudra(craftsmen, labourer)
Castes are endogamous groups which may sub-divided in sub-caste.
But the untouchables are not part of any of this. They are simply outcaste. Anyone outside the then society and not in varnas are outcaste, chandaal.
Untouchables or even the shadow of them were considered unpure.
The outcastes are below sudra and not a part of society. So next time if you hear someone is confusing between shudra and untouchable, tell them the reality.
Labels:
shudra,
untouchable
Responses
4 Respones to "Shudras are not untouchables!"
Isn't it inhuman to even classify people like this. I mean, these individuals certainly did nothing to be "outcast". Imagine if you were to be born so.
I, for a fact, would naturally not like it...
August 9, 2012 at 7:35 PM
We cannot impose our 21st century value systems on the classical era, due to the fact that it is virtually impossible to even imagine what it would be like during that time period. However, in ancient India, the influence of Hinduism and the sense of dharma, or duty to your caste was strong enough so that no significant rebellions occurred.
October 28, 2012 at 7:37 PM
We cannot impose 21st century values on ancient era. But 21st century values should apply to 21st century society. Irony is that the practices of untouchability still exist in India society even today. Most educated indians will vehemently deny it. But the practice is very much alive and kicking in all Indian cities, towns, villages and households. It is not as overt in big cities but very much evident in small towns and villages. The "unclean" and menial jobs are still predominated by individual caste groups. Gettos still exist in all cities, towns and villages. Outcasts still discriminated against by everyone else. So much has changed but a lot is still the same.
January 19, 2013 at 8:07 PM
I'm from Nepal.in my country the Shudra,who does work as goldsmith,cobbler,metalsmith etc are treated as untouchable.than what is the different between untouchable and Shudra.
January 26, 2013 at 10:00 PM
Post a Comment