TFIPOST हिन्दी
TFIPOST Global
Tfipost.com
Tfipost.com
No Result
View All Result
  • Premium
  • Politics
    • All
    • Analysis
    • Opinions
    • Trending
    Yogi Govt Flattens Chhangur Baba’s Conversion Headquarters

    End of a Conversion Empire: Yogi’s Bulldozers Level Maulana Jalaluddin’s ₹3-Crore Mansion

    Bihar CM Nitish Kumar Rolls Out 35% Reservation for Women in Govt Jobs

    Ahead of Elections, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar Rolls Out 35% Reservation for Women in Govt Jobs

    Custodial Death of Temple Guard Confirmed

    Judicial Probe Confirms Custodial Death of Temple Guard Ajith Kumar; DMK Government Faces Heat

    AIADMK's Roadshow Begins Amid High Stakes

    AIADMK Eyes Bigger Alliance With BJP Ahead of 2026 Tamil Nadu Elections

    • Analysis
    • Opinions
    • Trending
  • Economy
    • All
    • Business
    • Economy1
    • Finance
    Indian-Origin Tesla CFO Vaibhav Taneja Appointed Treasurer of Elon Musk’s 'America Party'

    Indian-Origin Tesla CFO Vaibhav Taneja Selected Treasurer of Elon Musk’s ‘America Party’

    India’s Forex Reserves Surge Past $700 Billion

    India’s Forex Reserves Surge Past $700 Billion, Close to All-Time Record

    Why GST Search Is Essential For Compliance In Modern Enterprises

    Why GST Search Is Essential For Compliance In Modern Enterprises

    Improving Communication and Collaboration in Distributed Teams: Strategies for Indian Business Analysts

    Improving Communication and Collaboration in Distributed Teams: Strategies for Indian Business Analysts

    • Business
    • Finance
  • Defense
    • All
    • Defence
    • Strategy
    • Weaponry
    Gun-Making Racket Exposed in Aligarh: UP STF Arrests 3

    Gun-Making Factory Busted in Aligarh: UP STF Arrests 3

    Major Arms Seizure in Manipur Hill Districts

    Amid Ongoing Tensions, Security Operation Yields Major Arms Seizure in Manipur Hill Districts

    military reveals china-pakistan-turkey nexus during operation sindoor

    One Border, Three Adversaries: Indian Army Blasts China-Pakistan-Turkey Axis in Operation Sindoor

    INS Tamal marks the end of import of Indian Warships

    INS Tamal Marks End of Warship Imports as India Sets Sail on Atmanirbhar Bharat Path

    • Defence
    • Strategy
    • Weaponry
  • Geopolitics
    • All
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Europe
    • South Asia
    • West Asia
    Five-Nation Tour: Modi to Visit Namibia, First Indian PM in 30 Years

    Five-Nation Tour: Modi to Visit Namibia, First Indian PM in 30 Years to Boost Mineral, Energy, and Digital Ties

    PM Modi Arrives in Brasilia, 4 Major India-Brazil Deals on Agenda

    PM Modi Arrives In Brasilia, Set for Strategic Talks and 4 Key MoUs

    Netanyahu Nominates Trump for Nobel Peace Prize, Calls It ‘Well Deserved’

    Netanyahu Nominates Trump for Nobel Peace Prize, Calls It ‘Well Deserved’

    Pattern of Targeted Attacks on Hindu Temples

    Rising Hate in Bangladesh: Hindu Temple in Barisal Ravaged, Idols of Deities Broken

    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Europe
    • South Asia
    • West Asia
  • Knowledge
    • All
    • Culture
    • Education
    • History
    • Indology
    The Beginning of Devotion: History of the First Kanwar Yatra

    The Beginning of Devotion: History of the First Kanwar Yatra 

    Kanwar Yatra: Four Devotional Paths, One Divine Destination

    Kanwar Yatra: Four Devotional Paths, One Divine Destination

    char dham yatra suspended due to bad weather

    Uttarakhand Suspends Char Dham Yatra Due to Adverse Weather, Prioritizes Pilgrim Safety

    Sanatan Mahakumbh Event Scheduled at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan

    Sanatan Mahakumbh Event Scheduled at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan on July 6

    • Culture
    • History
    • Indology
  • Law
  • Lounge
    • All
    • Books
    • Cinema
    • Entertainment
    • Food
    • Games
    • Health
    • Lifestyle
    • Satire
    • Sports
    • technology
    • Travel
    say no to alcohol for 6 months

    How Quitting Alcohol for 6 Months Can Transform Your Health

    Mental Wellness Rituals to Stay Calm, Focused, and Balanced

    Mental Wellness Rituals to Stay Calm, Focused, and Balanced

    India's Tour of Bangladesh Likely Postponed Amid Political Unrest

    India’s Tour of Bangladesh Likely Postponed Amid Political Unrest

    What Is The Best Way To Bet On Tennis?

    What Is The Best Way To Bet On Tennis?

    • Books
    • Cinema
    • Food
    • Health
    • Sports
    • technology
    • Travel
    • Satire
Tfipost.com
  • Premium
  • Politics
    • All
    • Analysis
    • Opinions
    • Trending
    Yogi Govt Flattens Chhangur Baba’s Conversion Headquarters

    End of a Conversion Empire: Yogi’s Bulldozers Level Maulana Jalaluddin’s ₹3-Crore Mansion

    Bihar CM Nitish Kumar Rolls Out 35% Reservation for Women in Govt Jobs

    Ahead of Elections, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar Rolls Out 35% Reservation for Women in Govt Jobs

    Custodial Death of Temple Guard Confirmed

    Judicial Probe Confirms Custodial Death of Temple Guard Ajith Kumar; DMK Government Faces Heat

    AIADMK's Roadshow Begins Amid High Stakes

    AIADMK Eyes Bigger Alliance With BJP Ahead of 2026 Tamil Nadu Elections

    • Analysis
    • Opinions
    • Trending
  • Economy
    • All
    • Business
    • Economy1
    • Finance
    Indian-Origin Tesla CFO Vaibhav Taneja Appointed Treasurer of Elon Musk’s 'America Party'

    Indian-Origin Tesla CFO Vaibhav Taneja Selected Treasurer of Elon Musk’s ‘America Party’

    India’s Forex Reserves Surge Past $700 Billion

    India’s Forex Reserves Surge Past $700 Billion, Close to All-Time Record

    Why GST Search Is Essential For Compliance In Modern Enterprises

    Why GST Search Is Essential For Compliance In Modern Enterprises

    Improving Communication and Collaboration in Distributed Teams: Strategies for Indian Business Analysts

    Improving Communication and Collaboration in Distributed Teams: Strategies for Indian Business Analysts

    • Business
    • Finance
  • Defense
    • All
    • Defence
    • Strategy
    • Weaponry
    Gun-Making Racket Exposed in Aligarh: UP STF Arrests 3

    Gun-Making Factory Busted in Aligarh: UP STF Arrests 3

    Major Arms Seizure in Manipur Hill Districts

    Amid Ongoing Tensions, Security Operation Yields Major Arms Seizure in Manipur Hill Districts

    military reveals china-pakistan-turkey nexus during operation sindoor

    One Border, Three Adversaries: Indian Army Blasts China-Pakistan-Turkey Axis in Operation Sindoor

    INS Tamal marks the end of import of Indian Warships

    INS Tamal Marks End of Warship Imports as India Sets Sail on Atmanirbhar Bharat Path

    • Defence
    • Strategy
    • Weaponry
  • Geopolitics
    • All
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Europe
    • South Asia
    • West Asia
    Five-Nation Tour: Modi to Visit Namibia, First Indian PM in 30 Years

    Five-Nation Tour: Modi to Visit Namibia, First Indian PM in 30 Years to Boost Mineral, Energy, and Digital Ties

    PM Modi Arrives in Brasilia, 4 Major India-Brazil Deals on Agenda

    PM Modi Arrives In Brasilia, Set for Strategic Talks and 4 Key MoUs

    Netanyahu Nominates Trump for Nobel Peace Prize, Calls It ‘Well Deserved’

    Netanyahu Nominates Trump for Nobel Peace Prize, Calls It ‘Well Deserved’

    Pattern of Targeted Attacks on Hindu Temples

    Rising Hate in Bangladesh: Hindu Temple in Barisal Ravaged, Idols of Deities Broken

    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Europe
    • South Asia
    • West Asia
  • Knowledge
    • All
    • Culture
    • Education
    • History
    • Indology
    The Beginning of Devotion: History of the First Kanwar Yatra

    The Beginning of Devotion: History of the First Kanwar Yatra 

    Kanwar Yatra: Four Devotional Paths, One Divine Destination

    Kanwar Yatra: Four Devotional Paths, One Divine Destination

    char dham yatra suspended due to bad weather

    Uttarakhand Suspends Char Dham Yatra Due to Adverse Weather, Prioritizes Pilgrim Safety

    Sanatan Mahakumbh Event Scheduled at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan

    Sanatan Mahakumbh Event Scheduled at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan on July 6

    • Culture
    • History
    • Indology
  • Law
  • Lounge
    • All
    • Books
    • Cinema
    • Entertainment
    • Food
    • Games
    • Health
    • Lifestyle
    • Satire
    • Sports
    • technology
    • Travel
    say no to alcohol for 6 months

    How Quitting Alcohol for 6 Months Can Transform Your Health

    Mental Wellness Rituals to Stay Calm, Focused, and Balanced

    Mental Wellness Rituals to Stay Calm, Focused, and Balanced

    India's Tour of Bangladesh Likely Postponed Amid Political Unrest

    India’s Tour of Bangladesh Likely Postponed Amid Political Unrest

    What Is The Best Way To Bet On Tennis?

    What Is The Best Way To Bet On Tennis?

    • Books
    • Cinema
    • Food
    • Health
    • Sports
    • technology
    • Travel
    • Satire
No Result
View All Result
Tfipost.com
Tfipost.com
No Result
View All Result
  • Premium
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Defense
  • Geopolitics
  • Knowledge
  • Law
  • Lounge

Caste a part of Indian society: Explained

Abhishek Kumar Singh by Abhishek Kumar Singh
15 December 2022
in Premium
Caste system of India
Share on FacebookShare on X

Caste system of India, religion, and development are the three main pillars of modern-day Indian politics. While the word “development” traces its relevance to the early 2010s, the other two have been the dominant themes since 1947. Out of them, Caste is a clear winner.

The term is used left, right and centre, by the people on the left, right and centre of the political spectrum. It has become an integral part of Indian society. So much so that it is now defining the saleability of established news portals.

RelatedPosts

Vijayadashami: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat flags conspiracy against India, rakes Deep State and Grammar of Anarchy; subversion tactics explained

The British came to India initially only to trade, but how did they end up ruling India?

Gandhi was not the mastermind behind the non-cooperation movement

Load More

Indian Express sees Caste at the Airport Terminal

Recently, Delhi Airport’s T3 terminal was in the news for its comparison with a bus stand. While Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Sindhia himself decided to visit the scene, Indian Express found a caste angle. According to author Yashee, people should stop complaining about the mess. The reason? Yashee believes (without any empirical evidence) that caste privilege is hurting people at T3.

Yashee seems to suggest that it is only people of the “Savarna” category who are facing this problem. She reasons that dominant castes are habituated to paying bribes in order to protect themselves from the hustle and bustle of airports. Since this is not readily available to them in modern times, they obviously feel irked. In her analysis, jumping signals and cutting queues are part of the pattern.

To be blunt, the article lacks substantive evidence and appeals to emotions rather than reason. Unfortunately, this is how the narrative around Caste system of India has taken shape over the last few centuries.

Hierarchical concept of Western society

The nomenclature of Indian varna vyavastha as a caste can be traced back to a famous biblical verse. Matthew 25:29 says, “For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.” The verse reeks of an unequal economic and social system. It is only recently that the west has started to shout from the rooftop about inequality. Until consumerism became the dominant religion of the west (a few decades ago), inequality was a Biblically sanctioned way of arranging society.

Even when they started their voyages for colonisation, the majority of western society was based on that prescription. It had a clearly defined hierarchy. In a way, it was good for the dominant group in the geography. A clear and distinct order based on race helped them identify their brethren and enemies. In other words, they had their own caste system. Even ‘caste’ is a derivation of a Spanish word called “casta.”

When Europeans landed in India, they were both mesmerised and confused about the geography. The Indian landmass (Akhand Bharat) was definitely the biggest geographical bloc that they wanted to capture. Military takeover was never an option due to the sheer enormity and diversity of minor and major kingdoms in India. Fortunately for them, Islamic imposition had taken shape in India. Between 1498 AD and 1700 AD, they tried to make sense of India and its diversity. The problem with that was that they did not change their lens, as they were looking for a way to classify Indians along the lines of their own society.

The British started to assert control in the 19th century

On the eve of 1800 AD, statistics as a subject and an aid to the government had taken shape. The Statistical Society recommended that Britishers ask people about their religious tilt. In one of the letters to British officials, it wrote, “An accurate knowledge of the religious persuasions of its people is requisite for every state. The ascertainment of it we see to be neglected by few claiming a high rank in civilization, and England ought assuredly not to be of that number.”

Around the same time, the British were solidifying their hold on the Indians through military conquests and subsidiary alliances. The next step was convincing the locals to become loyal to the British. It was an uphill task as they had just started to enjoy their freedom from the Jiziya tax and other forms of Islamic repression. This is where data gathering regarding religious tilt coupled with race science can confuse Indians.

In his book “Breaking India,” Dr. Rajiv Malhotra reveals that the “Aryan vs. Non-Aryan” narrative was given to divide existing Indian societies. The educated and warrior varnas of Indian society were shown as Aryan invaders who came to India and subjugated the interests and lifestyles of non-Aryans. The non-Aryan category was reserved for people other than those belonging to the above categories. These include 100s of Jatis and Adivasis, among others.

Indian stories were killed 

It suited their comfort zone as well. Their division of Indian society was in line with Darwin’s theory of evolution. They could portray one group as less evolved while other as more. That seems to have become the scientific basis of the evangelical idea of converting less evolved people for a few rice bags.

Consequently, vilifying Indian texts exposing the hollowness of their claim was taken to gargantuan proportions. Ramayan, Mahabharat, the Vedas, Puranas, Upanishads, and a plethora of rich Indian literature were termed archaic, non-scientific, and mythological stories. Within a span of 30 years, Lord Macaulay effectively killed the reminiscence of Gurukul tradition in India and overhauled the education system by Englishising it.

A general without knowledge of their own traditions was now ready. It was time for the British to hit their children with their racial propaganda material. Macaulay’s legacy was carried forward and given a sharp edge by Herbert Hope Risley. He had developed a Nasal index to classify people into different races. The word metamorphosed into and eventually was assimilated within the framework of ‘caste.’

Codifying Indians in their own narrative

In India, Varna and Jati are two similar concepts. The word “varna” is a universal concept for classifying people on the basis of their occupation. On the other hand, the word “Jati” mainly refers to communities. It is a localised way of ensuring social rhythm, while Varna is a universal concept. Both these concepts never had any connection with race, ethnicity, or genes.

Not for Risley though. He was tasked with giving a racially divisive angle to Census data collected by the British since 1872 AD. Between 1873 and 1901, Risley had done a thorough ethnographic study of Indian society. In 1891, he published a paper called The Study of Ethnology in India and a book called The Tribes and Castes of Bengal. The book was based on his six-year-long Ethnographic Survey of Bengal between 1885 and 1891.

In 1899, he was appointed as Census Commissioner of India. Risley made a poor mashup of existing Indian social systems and put them into Europeans’ own category, the caste system. The fact is that when he was gathering ethnographic data, people were not ready to accept his classification. Risley himself noted this fact in his comments about the Census Report of 1901 AD. It was Risley who told them their caste (his own invention) and got them registered in the census. The dissenting Jatis and Varnas had to accept the formulation in successive censuses as whatever benefits they would get were based on the same categorization.

Things did not change after independence

Caste system of India became an indistinguishable feature of every policy document in British India. Unfortunately, it did not change even after we attained political independence from them. The Constituent Assembly did put little effort into omitting this term and its negative connotation from public memory. The founding fathers and mothers of our polity tried to emphasise the word “class” of people rather than “caste.” However, the reservation provision ensured that the omission of words remained an elusive dream.

The word “class” quickly transmuted into “caste.” Soon, it took over politics. From politics, it took over academia, and from academia, it came back with legitimised authority to the masses. Over a period of time, a political economy has built around the word “caste.”

During the 1950s, talking about the removal of untouchability and other forms of discrimination became an unavoidable goal of people at the top echelons of policy-making. This is where Marxism creeped in. Since Nehru was an avid fan of the Soviet system of running politics, the concept of oppressed vs. oppressive became a compulsory topic.

In India, this narrative was not limited to the economic domain. It infiltrated the social system as well. Universities like JNU and other liberal Arts centred ones made it almost compulsory to talk about it. The more someone would talk about Caste system of India, higher would be his chances of succeeding in academia.

That is how students of Indian universities started to gain prominence all over the world. Apart from their obvious talent and genetic hard work, their openness to engage in debates about the drawbacks of their country attracted the IVY League. The Ivy League has always found Marxism fascinating, so much so that Alexander Solzhenitsyn was humiliated at Harvard for exposing Marxism and Leninism.

The introduction of satellite media worsened it

Exposure to Marxism’s hollowness did not have any impact in India. Governments of the day kept imposing socialism, academics kept getting more foreign funds in the name of eliminating caste discrimination, and Chancellors, college professors, top students, and bureaucrats kept getting richer by lecturing on the elimination of poverty caused by caste discrimination. Fuel to the fire was added by the Mandal Commission report and 1991 liberalisation.

LPG reforms opened the floodgates for satellite and commercial television to operate in India. The only problem was that of profit. For profit, television rating points for idiot boxes and the scalability of newspapers’ publications are prerequisites. Cricket and some TV serials were there, but these things are never permanent milking cows. Politics is, and if politics is there, division in society is, too.

Society of the 90s was highly divided along oppressor-oppressed lines. These media companies started to suck money out of negativity. They decided to side with the politically correct narrative of being on the supposedly “oppressed” side.

The reason behind it was simple. Those labelled as oppressors were in the minority, while the opposing party was in the majority. In the case of any censorship demand, the government would always side with the popular majority.

Also Read: Yaganti Uma Maheswara Temple & History, Stories and how to reach

Caste system of India – It’s all about power

That is how local issues ended up becoming national ones. For instance, if one person kills another, news portals start to look at their individual caste identities. In case the slain’s identity is that of the oppressed, it would be termed as suppression of the voice of that identity group. It did not, and even today, it does not matter that the incident may have happened due to personal acrimony.

Slowly but steadily, these narratives moved from newspaper columns to news rooms. From newsrooms, it moved to TV serials and cinemas, and ultimately, cinema rockstars ended up becoming experts on Caste system of India and other immutable characteristics of Indians.

The news columnists who find a caste angle in every trivial issue are products of propaganda spread by previous generations. They have seen how talking about caste gives them power. They have also seen how their seniors do not care about its impact on society. They have no qualms about toeing the same line as the will of power.

Support TFI:

Support us to strengthen the ‘Right’ ideology of cultural nationalism by purchasing the best quality garments from TFI-STORE.COM

Also Watch:

Tags: Alexander SolzhenitsynBritish IndiaBritish ruleCaste in IndiaCensus Commissioner of IndiaIndian SocietyIvy LeagueJatiLeninismMarxismNarrative on IndiaRisleyVarna
ShareTweetSend
Previous Post

BYJU’S Public ratings are out and it’s not good news for them

Next Post

Dr S Jaishankar junks Pakistan’s crap into the box

Related Posts

Mera Ration 2.0: A Leap Towards Digital Transparency and Corruption-Free India
Business

Mera Ration 2.0: A Leap Towards Digital Transparency and Corruption-Free India

13 September 2024

How India's Latest Digital Initiative is Revolutionizing Ration Distribution India is making significant strides in the digital realm with...

The Lahore declaration that was not meant to be
History

The Lahore declaration that was not meant to be

25 February 2023

For a long time, India’s geographical region of Kashmir has been a sensitive issue between India and Pakistan. But...

Baikunth Shukla
History

Bihar’s Forgotten Sons: Yogendra Shukla and Baikunth Shukla

22 February 2023

Story of Baikunth Shukla and Yogendra Shukla: Have you been to Bihar before? Stop assuming. I'm not referring to...

Load More

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms of use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Currently Playing

Rs 15,000 cr gone? Saif Ali Khan's crown crushed by enemy property law

Rs 15,000 cr gone? Saif Ali Khan's crown crushed by enemy property law

00:04:40

Siddaramaiah Sparks Vaccine Theory to Hide Congress Chaos?

00:09:21

Murugan Wave Rattles INDIA Bloc, Triggers Reactionary Meet in Madurai

00:08:10

Rage on stage: why a police officer resigned quit after CM's outburst

00:03:40

Right to religion vs duty to identify: where should India draw the line?

00:04:34
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube
tfipostTfipost.com
Right Wing | News Analysis | Indian Opinion
  • About us
  • Careers
  • Brand Partnerships
  • Terms of use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap

©2025 TFI Media Private Limited

No Result
View All Result
  • Premium
  • Politics
    • Analysis
    • Opinions
    • Trending
  • Economy
    • Business
    • Finance
  • Defense
    • Defence
    • Strategy
    • Weaponry
  • Geopolitics
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Europe
    • South Asia
    • West Asia
  • Knowledge
    • Culture
    • History
    • Indology
  • Law
  • Lounge
    • Books
    • Cinema
    • Food
    • Health
    • Sports
    • technology
    • Travel
    • Satire
TFIPOST हिन्दी
TFIPOST Global

©2025 TFI Media Private Limited