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1500 BCE
Origin of the Caste system
The Caste System was originally discussed in the Rig Veda, an ancient Hindu scripture that details a man destroying himself to create society, with four different body parts becoming the four varnas (the caste levels).
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1500
Caste System in Mughal India
The Caste System in the Mughal empire was changed dramatically from its original intent: the power of the Brahmins was lessened, the Kshatriyas were driven out of large portions of the subcontinent, and Vaishya and Shudra castes became indistinguishable.
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Changes of the Caste System
The caste system was further strengthened during the Mughal occupation of India due to growing anti-Muslim apprehension, particularly in the lower classes that needed identities and fair treatment.
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British East India Company arrives
The British East India Company began carving out large sects of land for trading and general control of India. They saw an opportunity with the caste system to divide and take advantage of the country.
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British Crown
The British Crown officially takes over control of India. This is when the abuse of the caste system was clearly evident. The British gave power back to the Brahmin caste in order to gain their allegiance, then used the allegiance to exploit the other castes.
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Ghulamgiri
The book Ghulamgiri is written. This book describes the actions taken by the British to ensure that the Brahmins are allies and cooperative as the rest of India suffers. It criticizes the actions of the caste system and illustrates how India would prosper without the system in place. The author, Jyotirao Phule, compares the caste system to American slavery. It was a very influential novel for many.
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Divide and Rule
The British government created divide and rule laws in India to lower the chance of rebellion against them by pitting the castes, Muslims, and Hindus against one another. The British created a land ordinance in Bengal to divide the religions and castes. This was later repealed after protest.
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Reform
The British begin to recognize that the caste system is no longer beneficial, and partially due to the soldiers India provided during WW1, Britain begins to reform the caste system to allow more opportunities for the lower classes. Britain sees some of the societal laws against Dalits (untouchables) as discriminatory.
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Water well protest
A young Dalit man named Bhimrao assembles thousands of fellow Dalits to draw water from a well that had been outlawed to them for decades.
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New Constitution
India's new constitution is drafted with help from Ambedkar to ensure there is no caste discrimination. He also helped to secure guaranteed jobs and other amenities for Dalits.
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Dalit panther
The Dalit panther movement begins with a similar motivation to the Black panthers in America. The panther movement spreads throughout India, and a new form of literature illustrating the movement emerges as a result.
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Caste system today
Although the caste system was officially abolished with the new constitution, vestiges of the system still remain prevalent in Indian society. Hate crimes are still very common against Dalits, and approximately 1/3 of Dalits today make less than $2 per day.
