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Religion is arguably the most influential political structure created by humans. In ancient times (and even in the present) religion acted as a basis of organizing a community and its people. At the beginning of its use, the systems of most religions proved to be beneficial. However, as the social climate changed, religious governing often refused to adapt and proved to be detrimental. An excellent example of the downfalls of religious government can be seen through India and the caste system of the Vedas (the Hindu equivalent to the Bible). Caste was created as a means of societal organization based on race and hierarchy (Chethimattam, 0). This system became problematic due to its inescapability. According to the caste system, one is born, works, marries and dies within the same caste (OFlaherty). The power of the rigid structure of the caste system encouraged the practice of Untouchability, hindered the centralization of Indian government and interfered with the application of sciences in India. As a result, the caste system of the Vedas has slowed down the progression of Indian society.
The Vedas is the entire body of sacred Hindu writing. It is comprised of four books that outline the beliefs of the ancient Indian civilization, including that of caste. (Chethimattam, 16). The Vedas describes the caste system as a hierarchy of four categories or varnas through the myth of the source of life, the giant Purusha (Rig Veda, 10.0). His head representing the Brahmin [priesthood, highest class], his arms representing the Kshatriya [rulers], his legs representing the Vaishya [workers/farmers] and his feet representing the Sudra [domestic servants, lowest class] (De Bary, 16-17). As indicated by the Vedas, the caste system supports Svadharmathe belief that each person has a unique role to complete in society (Chethimattam, 6). This role is determined by one's Karmathe accumulated merit and demerit of one's soul (OFlaherty). Therefore, due to the Hindu belief of reincarnation, if one accepts his or her role as a Sudra in this life, the individual can be reborn as a Vaishya in the next (OFlaherty).
Although rarely mentioned in the Vedas, another group of people exist in society; the Untouchables. Untouchables are considered to be sources of dreadful pollution. They are people who have unclean living habits (eating carrion) and/or unclean occupations (pertaining to physical contact with death/human excreta) (Stern, 74). These people live in unspeakable poverty and become subject to constant verbal and physical abuse from their touchable neighbours (Stern, 75). Their women are sexually exploited and their children refused of education (Stern, 75). Untouchability deprives an entire population from education, and in essence, from societal contribution. These people cannot escape their Untouchability and therefore, are doomed to remain static for centuries, as they have. This lack of advancement proves the caste system's hindrance of the progression of a people. Despite recent legislation outlawing the practice of Untouchability, there are over 10 million Untouchables living in India todaymore than 10 percent of the entire Indian population (Stern 74). India has yet to find a way to rid itself from this dreadful practice.
The strict guidelines of the caste system were the foundation of Indian government. For centuries, India was mostly a cluster of independent, self-governed communities (Stein, 155). Each village monitored the following of the caste system by its people. For this reason, "the pace of centralization of India was slow" (Stein, 155). People placed such a great fundamentality on the following of the caste system that they were reluctant to surrender this power to a state head (Stein, 155). In fact, the majority of Indian society was indifferent to politics altogether because only members of the Kshatriya caste were supposed to deal with affairs of state (Lawler, 7). The caste system placed a higher value on priesthood, the Brahmin, than on ruling, the Kshatriya (Lawler, 7). Therefore, it was only natural for its followers to have done the same. Weak government and decentralization were the main reasons why India was under foreign ruleArab, Turkish, Iranian, Mongol, Afghan and British, etceterafor the majority of its history (Stein). Often, the new ruling empires would exploit the Indian population. In this state of mistreatment, it is not very likely that Indians made much advancement to their government and society. Ideas of liberalism and social and economic democracy were only introduced to India during the early nineteenth century - and not by Indians themselves, but by the British (Wolpert, 0). The decentralization of Indian society caused by the caste system, clearly changed the path of Indian progression.
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For at least 1500 years, India led the world in mathematics and made many valuable contributions to science and medicine (Wolpert, 15). One of the most important Indian contributions to the modern world is the number system we use today that acts as a backbone to computer technologybinary (Wolpert, 14). Nevertheless, despite the fact that India was "ingenious in scientific theory" (Wolpert, 17) it remained in social, political and economic decay (Wolpert, 17). In 158, Prime Minister Nehru's government created the "Science Policy Resolution" (Wolpert, 17). This affirmed "an inherent obligation of a great country like India… to participate fully in the march of science" (Wolpert, 17). Evidently, according to Prime Minister Nehru, something was holding India back from partaking in science. The caste system prohibits the sharing of meals and other forms of gatherings between castes (O'Flaherty). With the outlawing of caste practising half a century later, India is now quickly progressing in industrial development (Stern, 071). This suggests that, perhaps, with the relief of the caste system (at least legal relief), India can now begin to function as a progressive country.
The caste system was, and arguably continues to be, one of most powerful religious systems in existence. Due to its religious promotion by the Vedas, the following of caste was mandated for years. Very few would dare to defy this ancient Indian dogma. In fact, India remained a Hindu state for centuries until the medieval era, when it could no longer resist the influence of its Islamic neighbours (Stein, 147). However, despite renouncing the Hindu religion, many of the people who converted to Islam during this time continued to practice caste and Untouchability (Stein, 147). Over the centuries, thousands of jatis or subcastes were added to the system (Lawler, 14). Nevertheless, these changes and additions were unable to modify the very core of Indian ideology, which remained static for almost 000 years (Wolpert, 5). Considerable changes have been made only during the past century and a half, and it is arguable that these changes came about solely due to Western influence (Wolpert, 5). In fact, despite new legislation prohibiting caste segregation and discrimination against Untouchables, people in India continue to practice caste today (Stein, 401). The strong hold the caste system had on Indian society in the past, and continues to have in the present, demonstrates the unfathomable power of this very old religious system.
Through the discoveries of ancient Indian scientists, mathematicians and philosophers, it is evident that India had the potential to skyrocket into a successful and progressive society. However, history tells us that despite its intelligence, India was a country of political weakness, poor economy and social suffering (Wolpert, 17). This leads one to question the reason that inhibited such a promising country from prospering. The answer lies within the rigid caste system of the Vedas. It encouraged the practice of Untouchability, slowed down the centralization of Indian government, and interfered with the application of science. However, above all, the greatest problem with the caste system is that it hindered and continues to hinder individual prospect. Without instilling power to the individual, societal progression as a whole is unattainable. Motivation and means of sharing information is key in the development of a society. This is clear with democratic civilizations such as ancient Greece and the majority of present day countries. Individuals have the opportunity to rise from rags to riches, and perhaps it is this opportunity that makes all the difference. Had Indian culture not embraced the caste system as it had, India could have been an extremely powerful and advanced society today. The total abolishment of the caste system is highly unlikely to occur, for caste is as much part Indian as the American flag is American. However, it is realistic to hope that India will rise from its third-world country status to an advanced global power. Such a result can only occur if caste segregation reduces and the term 'Untouchability' finally loses its societal context.
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