The Hindu caste structure is an ancient system that has lasted for thousands of years. It is divided into four main Varnas or categories: the Brahmins (priests or scholars) the Kshatriyas (politicians and civil authorities), the Vaishyas (professionals), the Shudras (laborers) and finally the Out-castes whom don't even get to be in this structural system. The higher castes are the ones that hold the power while the lower castes, and especially the Out-castes, are kept at the margin of decisions that only benefit those in power. Doing this sets boundaries to those who are at the end of this system of inequality. In addition, it also keeps the higher castes economically stable because they don't have to compete or defend themselves from the lower castes. While they get richer, the lower castes get poorer and have no opportunities to change their situation. Most Americans probably think that this type of caste system is appalling and that this would never happen in America. But do we have something similar here? Right now there is an important national and recently turned global movement that is getting a lot of attention which is the Occupy Wall-street movement.
Protesters are rebelling against the big corporations and the wealthy 1% who are getting richer while the rest of us are stuck with no opportunities similar to the lower castes in the Hindu caste system. While we may not have such a strongly defined class system, we do have a higher class that continues to take advantage of the rest of us. Much of India's inequality is due to the rules of their caste system, while ours is due to the unfair rules that government and big business play by.
What I see here in the US is an economic system that seems to work for those at the top and keeps those who are not fortunate enough to be in that position oppressed. In addition, statistics have shown an inequality that can't be ignored anymore. Although India has their own version of the Occupy Wall-street Movement, their aim does not seem to be towards their caste system; but rather they want to stop government corruption. Their caste system has been part of their society for thousands of years so we may not live to see their caste structure change. Conversely, the Occupy Wall-Street movement here in the US keeps getting more support and attention and we might live to see a change. It seems that people are tired of this higher class that has left the rest of us 99% behind.For more information about this movement visit Occupy Wallstreet
I found your post interesting, and it gives a good comparison to India’s caste system, and the USA’s class system. However, I disagree with you on a few levels. First of all, India’s caste system laws were retracted around the 1950s, and class discrimination is now against the law in India. Having a whole group of people to change their mindset about equality is another matter however. The caste system had been in place for thousands of years, so (as you said) changing a whole nations’ mindset to one of equality, and nondescrimination is not going to happen quickly. The USA have a system that changes quickly, and that allows much, much more freedom to move upward or downward in social status than India’s system. If you work really hard the chances are no one will try to stop you from becoming wealthy or rising in social status. That freedom is a huge part of our society, so I hope like you say, that we will see a change of honesty, and that our system will allow those who work hard to get recompensed fairly for their work.
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