What’s a Caste System?
March 8th, 2009
Submitted by: David Caldwell
I came across a rather depressing piece while browsing the internet: an exposé about an Indian worker named Rewa Ram, entitled “My life cleaning Delhi’s sewers.” The article describes the job of one of India’s lower castes: the untouchables, or “Dalits.” While just reading about Ram’s experience is enough to induce nausea, he says “I am not educated, I come from a very poor family of untouchables. What else can I expect…At least I have a government job and I am able to feed my children. I get into this hell every day but then this is my job…I live smelling death, but it is fine.”
Ram’s response seems of indicative of a glass ceiling above the lower classes. When I started to think more in depth about what kinds of influences were keeping the Dalits down, I realized that I had almost no understanding of the caste system or social stratification – it’s just not something that I’ve ever had a lot of exposure to. This is why I’m so excited about getting to go to India to learn about their society first-hand.
Related to the previous article, I stumbled across another piece that caught my interest: a Fora.tv video about The Privatization of Water. While I don’t claim to be any sort of environmental advocate, one part of this video caught my attention. Alan Snitow talks briefly about how much more expensive bottled water is than municipal water sources, but American consumer guilt isn’t what he’s interested in. At 00:35:45 into the talk, he mentions that the “real problem [he] sees with bottled water is best seen in other parts of the world.” Specifically, he observes than in India, the middle and upper classes drink bottled water because there is a perception that the municipal water supply is unhealthy. As a result, the only support for improving public water systems comes from the country’s poorest citizens – essentially limiting their access to clean, affordable water by robbing them of any sort of political clout.
Snitow chastises the privatization of water sources all over the world by companies such as Nestle, Coca Cola, and Pepsi. This grates harshly against my experiences with business and education – until now, I’ve been a staunch believer that private industry was the best way to get many things done; after all, competition brings out the best in people, right? When I’m talking to my friends about a poor performance or a substandard service, I often jokingly say that “it’s good enough for government work!”
To reconcile these two conflicting ideas, I’ll have to think back to our Macro Economics course (GSB 533) last spring, in which Dr. Marlow taught us that when governments create restrictions and incentives in markets, they may achieve certain social objectives, but it won’t be as efficient an allocation of resources to their highest value uses as if the government had embraced a laissez-faire attitude. I appreciate that at the end of the day, we didn’t learn whether governmental intervention was right or wrong, but that it was up to us to decide what we thought was the most important, and to act accordingly to pursue those goals. As it pertains to Rewa Ram, it’s up to the Indian government to decide whether or not it wants to resist foreign and domestic investment in municipal replacements at the cost of efficiency, or if it wants to embrace them at the cost of its most destitute people.
Entry Filed under: India, New Delhi, Pre-Departure
13 Comments Add your own
1. Jay Singh | March 9th, 2009 at 9:46 am
Great discussion and very timely for the India trip this summer. For those not aware of the very real caste system that exists in India even today, here is a little background.
Over 80% of Indians are Hindus. The Hindu society has traditionally been divided into several thousands of groups, castes or communities called Jatis. Ancient Hindu texts describe the society as the coexistence of four varnas (classes/groups): Brahmins (teachers, priests and scholars), Kshatriyas (kings and warriors), Vaishyas (traders and agriculturalists) and Shudras (workers, service providers and some artisan groups). Traditionally, although the political power lay with the Kshatriyas, historians portrayed the Brahmins as keepers and interpreters of religion enjoyed much prestige.
The castes traditionally did not constitute a rigid description of the occupation or the social status of a group….until the British rule (1858-1947). The British attempted to equate the Indian caste system to their own social class system, thereby making it more rigid. The “dalits”, earlier refereed to as the “untouchables”, worked in more or less unhealthy, unpleasant or polluting jobs. There was social discrimination even amongst this group with “upper sub-castes” such as washermen and hairdressers not willing to interact with lower order “Bhangis”, the toilet cleaners (Rewa Ram in David’s blog post) and those who cremated dead bodies.
Moving into post-independence India, even though by 1950 discrimination based on caste had been outlawed by the constitution, the practice pervades society even today….though more in rural areas than urban. Though the caste system in India primarily stems from Hinduism, the religion in itself is not to be judged on the social values of today. The Nordic races, the Greeks and Romans, the British, the French and the Russians amongst several others practiced their own versions of the caste systems. Even the new world had the slave system practiced for nearly two centuries. The Hindu caste system did have certain advantages for the ancient society such as continuity of tradition, division of labor, bonds of brotherhood, purity of lineage and unity of those within a caste. Some key disadvantages of this system were that it allowed for exploitation of the weak, disunity and division of loyalties, foreign domination, preferential treatment, instrument of oppression and the rise of the untouchability concept.
Though the caste system served its purpose in ancient times, it does not fit into the values and principles of the modern times. The modern India is making attempts to improve the living conditions of the impoverished classes by providing positive discrimination. The lower classes are listed in three categories: the Scheduled Caste (untouchables), the Scheduled Tribes (those communities who did not accept the caste system and preferred to reside deep in the jungles, forests and mountains of India, away from the main population) and the Other Backward Classes or Backward Classes (Shudra Varna and also former untouchables who converted from Hinduism to other religions)
According to the central government policy these three categories are entitled for positive discrimination. Sometimes these three categories are defined together as Backward Classes. 15% of India’s population is Scheduled Castes. According to central government policy 15% of the government jobs and 15% of the students admitted to universities must be from Scheduled Castes. For the Scheduled Tribes about 7.5% places are reserved which is their proportion in Indian population. The Other Backwards Classes are about 50% of India’s population, but only 27% of government jobs are reserved for them.
Though massive efforts are in place to provide opportunities to the impacted classes to improve their economic status, tensions and discrimation still exist. People such as Rewa Ram, though in an occupation that may repulse the privileged masses, are fortunate to have a government job that allows them to bring in a steady income (low as it might be) and hope for a better future for his offspring. The practice of untouchability is on the decline since the Independence of India. K. R. Narayanan, who became the President of India in 1997, and K. G. Balakrishnan (the present Chief Justice of India) have belonged to castes formerly considered untouchable.
2. Emily Schaapveld | December 29th, 2009 at 11:32 am
I agree that privatized business is the most efficient and best way to move resources to their highest value uses. However, I believe that it is the government has a social responsibility to intervene when its citizens are treated unfairly, particularly for their basic needs. Everybody, rich and poor, should have the right to clean municipal drinking water. Just because bottled water is available, that does not mean that India’s issue with supplying clean water is not important. Clean, safe drinking water is a necessity for all human life, therefore, the Indian government has a responsibility to invest in cleaning up its municpal drinking water.
3. Lindsay Leaver | January 9th, 2010 at 7:55 pm
Once again, I agree with Emily 100%.
While a government takeover of the auto industry may not be the best thing for the country, the government take over of a municipal water source is the best thing for the people. When it comes to basic human functions and rights, let’s not leave it up to greedy business men. Clean water is more important than any other necessity and should be given to all citizens rich, poor, or untouchable. In this case, just because it isn’t a good investment, doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t be done.
I lived in a rural village in Kyrgyzstan with very little electricity, no heat in the winter, dirty, sometimes no water. By far, the BIGGEST challenge was living without water. The canal in my village ran dry my second summer there. I would take no electricity and no heat any day over no water. You simply cannot function without it. It’s impossible.
Possession of clean water is going to become an increasingly large problem in the future. The governments of all developing countries should fix this now, because it will only become more difficult in the future.
4. Jason Silver | February 10th, 2010 at 11:12 pm
It is hard to see how people can live in such conditions. I believe that everyone should have the fundamental right to be able to live a free life. This includes not having to swim in toxic human waste. The caste system, although it has officially been eliminated, still brings hardships to many people.
There are a few Dalits, which moved out of their caste, into higher social classes. These successful people are the bearers of change. These are the folks that can really make a difference for the rest of the Dalits. They can change the way people think, and with that would come a public voice, and ultimately better living conditions.
There must be a shift in perception, from discrimination to freedom, and over time, as India become more globally oriented, hopefully we will see this change.
5. Jay Ponto | February 19th, 2010 at 10:38 am
It’s unfortunate that individuals like Rewa Ram are compelled to unplug fecal blockages in Indian sewers for a living, purely due to their status as Dalits. I understand his point of being fortunate to have a job to feed his family, as having the ability to work is undoubtedly a virtue. Nonetheless, the Indian government should do a better job at improving its sewers and raising the quality of living for its people, instead of pursuing costly space programs which will result in very expensive advances that most Indian citizens will never appreciate.
In any westernized country, the conditions Rewa Ram experiences would never be tolerated, and would be dubbed as nothing less than deplorable by any reasonable individual. The repetitive exposures to gases like hydrogen sulfide and methane will wreak havoc on any human’s physiology, producing a plethora of disorders. By not improving sewage systems and by employing individuals to clear blockages for little compensation, the Indian government is contributing to the abuse of the Dalits; it has a responsibility to care for its citizens and eliminate such conditions.
6. William Ary | February 21st, 2010 at 9:16 pm
I think it is up to the government to provide only things that can most efficiently be provided via public works. They are things whose value can be seen by all but whose benefit is too long term to encourage a business to fill the need at a profit. In this case, the lower classes have a need that is not met due to government’s being swayed by the upper classes. I think that if the government will not provide water directly, it at least owes the country’s poor insofar as teaching them how to get water for themselves through well-digging, purification or irrigation canals. They must have the skills to get water themselves because no one else will help them out.
7. John Barry | February 26th, 2010 at 11:16 pm
I cannot speak for what negative impacts the caste system has on lower class Indians as I’ve never walked in their shoes or visited their country but one thing most of us keep forgetting is that money cannot, and does not buy happiness. As a matter of fact, I go back to my home country of Brazil every now and then to remind myself of this fact and rejuvinate my soul with the levity of spirit that prevails within even those who find themselves in the most dire of circumstances. I think it might even be a blessing for some of these people to find themselves in a situation where they have no choice but to cherish the important things in life, as they are unlikely to ever have the material things. I am not saying that I believe in ceilings that keep people from moving up, it’s just that I think there are much worse injustices out there that we can focus on. Just because Rewa Ram is unlikely to ever have material excess does not mean he is destined for a life devoid of meaning.
While I do admit that money can buy some peace of mind, with too much peace of mind comes boredom. And as Helen Keller once insightfully noted, “life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.”
8. Kirk Story | March 6th, 2010 at 8:22 pm
A series of comments regarding reader’s opinions follow the BBC article about Rewa Ram, the human plunger. I was surprised to find the comments were, for the most part, one sided. Most comments, from Indian nationals and expats, were very harsh on the Indian government and overall state of social stratification in India. This surprised me because the ‘caste discussion’ I have previously had with Indian nationals tends to be multi-faceted. Many times I am told that I don’t understand the reality of the caste system. Dr. Singh, for example, sites the exploitation of the caste system by the British during their occupation of India. I have also heard the comment, “Talk about the caste system when you go to India and you see and understand the situation.” I suppose this is the advice I will follow for now.
9. Jordan Wente | March 8th, 2010 at 6:32 pm
Municipal water might be considered unhealthy to the middle class and wealthy citizens but are they completely wrong? The current water situation in India makes dinking tap water undesirable. If you can afford any other option why not take advantage it. Maybe if increased efforts were made by the government to clean up the water systems more people would choose municipal water over bottled water. This might remove the stigma placed on municipal water.
I think in order for India to break the dependency on bottled water, I think the Indian government really has to take action to ensure the water system is producing clean and safe water. This is just one of those areas that privatization might not be the best way to get things done. Its unfortunate that the only support comes from the poorest citizens but the impact on the citizens and the environment should be enough to influence some kind of action to be taken by the government. I read somewhere that in the future there will be more wars fought over water than over oil. I think that is probably an accurate assumption. Given the possibility that this could become a reality, it would make sense for the Indian government take measures in order to sustain its water resources. This makes me wonder what kind of impact the privatization of water might have in the future
10. Chase Janvrin | March 13th, 2010 at 9:54 pm
This reminds me of an NPR interview I heard last year (unfortunately I cannot remember who the guest was) about the way Americans identify themselves to their jobs. The guest was British, and he remarked how much he loved the fact that in America you are judged, frequently, by the job you have. I was shocked to hear this, thinking of how shallow and one dimensional it seemed. Then he explained how much better it was than to have a job thrust on you by the government (communism) or to be judged by what family you’re born into (referencing a caste system). It was the first time I had really considered how fortunate we are to have the opportunities that we do have. It’s no wonder that we have so many immigrants still coming to America in search of a better life. It reminds me of another quote, I believe it was Winston Churchill that said, “Sure democracy sucks, but it’s better than the alternative.” Which of course, is any other government system that we’ve yet developed.
11. Leslie Mann | March 17th, 2010 at 11:41 pm
I too was appalled by what Rewa Ram and millions of others must endure everyday to provide for their families and keep the streets of Delhi feces free. The work is atrocious and the fact that laws were passed to ban people from doing what Rewa Ram does on a daily basis is quite unnerving. Only in emergencies can people enter the sewers but if emergencies occur daily, why are there laws even in place? The government has a responsibility to invest in Delhi’s sewer system. The sewers should function properly and not at the expense of millions of lives (the article states that life expectancy for Rewa and others like him is 10 years less than the national average). Rewa Ram and the millions of other sewer workers could better spend their time working for the government in building new sewer systems, thereby learning a new trade and earning money without it costing 10 years of their life.
The Indian government has a responsibility to its people to spend the proper resources on its sewer systems and water supply. Over-population will continue to be a problem for many of the world’s countries and water is the key element for these populations to exist and thrive. Yes, I too agree that in the future human beings will engage in wars over clean water more than any other resource, but in some parts of the world, these wars are waging now. There is no time like the present to engage in actions that will ensure a healthier environment for future generations.
On a lighter note, I appreciate Dr. Singh’s background information on the caste system, as I, like many others, did not know much about it. In fact, many Americans, myself included, know very little about the country and culture of India and this ignorance as some may call it, though not to be made light of, can put perspective on what little we know about our neighbors half way around the globe.
For some humor, see Stephen Colbert’s interview with Ujjal Dosanjh, member of Canadian Parliament and Canada’s first Indo-Canadian provincial leader (Wikipedia). If you are short on time, pay special attention at 03:40 of the video:
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/264537/february-22-2010/better-know-a-riding—vancouver-s-south—ujjal-dosanjh
12. Vitus Holzner | March 19th, 2010 at 9:36 am
I might get some hate for this post but I believe there is something like a caste system the American society too. Maybe it’s not as well defined and clearly named as in India but I feel there is a caste of “untouchables” in this country as well. Just recently I had a heated debate with a friend about this exact topic and he claims that everybody has the same opportunities for social advancement in this country. Well I don’t believe that this is trues and I will use the micro cosmos CalPoly to prove my point.
Hispanic/Latino:
% of CA population: 36.6%
% of CP student body: 9.3%
African American:
% of CA population: 6.7%
% of CP student body: 1.1%
I think in the US castes are defined by money and education rather than religion.
Resources:
U.S. Census Bureau
Cal Poly Fall 2008 Fact Book
13. Jeff | March 19th, 2010 at 9:43 am
Believe it or not, I can relate to Rewa Ram’s experiences.
While in the Navy during the Vietnam War, I served on the Aircraft Carrier USS Midway as a Hull Technician. Among the my duties in the Pipe Shop (besides welding,plumbing, and endlessly shining brass) , I unplugged sewage lines. Because of the design and construction of the plumbing system on the ship, when a “plug” occurred in the lower level (The ship had about 10 decks) Everything flushed from the upper levels flooded what was in the level right above the plug. My job was to “free the plug”. Imagine wading around in a compartment full of sewage sloshing back and forth with the roll of the sea swells…
Unfortunately, I don’t have to imagine.
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