What is Caste?
SRaj
What is Caste?
I recognize that superficial and ill-informed understanding about the Caste System persists, leading victims to inadvertently perpetuate the very system that horrifies and wreaks havoc upon them. This self-defeating and self-inflicted harm is no less destructive than the system itself.
Therefore, understanding the core of the caste system is indeed crucial for comprehending its various aspects in social life. However, merely grasping the theoretical and superficial aspects without delving deeper into the practical realities can indeed be misleading and potentially harmful.
Every country in the world has developed and adheres to its own form of economic system. These systems vary widely, including Democratic Capitalism, Private Capitalism, Dictatorship of Proletariat Capitalism, Totalitarian Capitalism, and Authoritarian or State Capitalism.
Like every other country, India also has its own form of economic system. Yes, India has its own economic system, and it is called Caste. The caste system represents the mode of production and services that India has followed for centuries. Caste is just a name or a label for the concrete economic system that exists in India. It’s important to note that caste is not a social system; it’s an economic system that influences every aspect of Indians’ life, from cradle to graveyard.
Varna and caste are the same, and both represent the same economic system. Caste is simply a more granular and evolved form of Varna. An economic system refers to the structure and organization through which a society produces, distributes, and consumes goods and services.
Like the economic systems of every other country, the Indian economic system/Caste System/Varna System also has defined policies and rules for production and services. It clearly dictates who can and must produce what, and who can and must render what kind of services. Let’s consider the production system. Who is responsible for producing earthen pots? Who should make footwear? And who should make ornaments or furniture? Additionally, who has the right to own land and produce grains? Now, shifting to the service system: Who should provide laundry services? Who is responsible for funeral services, including tasks like digging graves and handling corpses? Do all these production and service activities fall under Economics? If not, what category do they belong to? Are they related to Spirituality, Forensic Biology, or Anthropology?
The Caste System is not a religious system. Instead, it is a concrete economic system wrapped in deceptive religious packaging, which serves as a mechanism to maintain economic hierarchies. Don’t be dismayed or deceived by the outer wrapper; you have the power to dynamite its content overnight!”
Often, you hear orthodox Brahminical Sanatanis call for following your ancestral occupation. What does it mean? If individuals deviate from their ancestral occupation in either production or service within the economic system, it will collapse the structure of established economic hierarchy. In other words, they know that the caste system will collapse. Sanatanis have a crystal-clear understanding of caste!
What is the Economic System of The erstwhile Soviet Union called? Dictatorship of Proletariat Capitalism. What is the Economic System of America called? Democratic Capitalism. What is the Economic System of China called? Totalitarian, Authoritarian or State Capitalism. What’s the Economic System of India called ? Caste. Yes the Economic System of India is called Caste System!!
The Varna System, Caste System, and Indian Economic System are all one and the same. Yes, the Caste is just a name for the Indian Economic System.
—Selva
May 5, 2024