@dr_gsharma @Rashtriya2021 @Rupeshpa2 @PrasunNagar Let me put some words into this, then.
Post Buddhism, there are two main triggers in Indian history which demanded a macroscopic change in societal outlook. One is the invasions of the steppe tribes starting with the Kushanas and ending with Hunas, and
Post Buddhism, there are two main triggers in Indian history which demanded a macroscopic change in societal outlook. One is the invasions of the steppe tribes starting with the Kushanas and ending with Hunas, and
@dr_gsharma @Rashtriya2021 @Rupeshpa2 @PrasunNagar the other, Islamic invasions. Look at the first set. Most of the invasions are cleared off by the mid of Gupta Era which saw decline of Buddhism in India for whatever reasons. This anti-Buddhism movement can be looked upon as the actual precursor for the hereditary caste system.
@dr_gsharma @Rashtriya2021 @Rupeshpa2 @PrasunNagar But. It was not a motivation enough to make the system rigid. The triggers came from elsewhere - Islamic invasions which immediately followed Buddhism. There is a study which placed the origin of hereditary caste system in India to around 350-400 AD -
@dr_gsharma @Rashtriya2021 @Rupeshpa2 @PrasunNagar the peak of Gupta Age(I don't have my laptop now - can't share details of that study). But, that study considers around 40 years for a generation. But, realistically speaking, a generation is around 25 years which makes it around 900-1000 AD. Now the question is all about why did
@dr_gsharma @Rashtriya2021 @Rupeshpa2 @PrasunNagar (hereditary) caste system solidify in India around 1000 AD. That was the peak of Islamic struggle in India - that is the first time India actually lost territory to Islam. The borders of Hindu/Buddhist India which was a line between Zaranj and Kabul now became Indus.
@dr_gsharma @Rashtriya2021 @Rupeshpa2 @PrasunNagar People streamed across to settle into other parts of India. One should question if caste was a response to that - more social bonding, preserving of traditional crafts(remember, it's Sudra, not Panchama - a farmer or a gold smith is also a Sudra).
@dr_gsharma @Rashtriya2021 @Rupeshpa2 @PrasunNagar In fact, another hint for this comes from the Islamic advances into Bihar where kings competed with each other to patronize the Brahmins. They became the protectors of traditional knowledge of Hinduism - a very great epithet. Why Brahmins and not farmers? The answer is obvious.
@dr_gsharma @Rashtriya2021 @Rupeshpa2 @PrasunNagar All this rambling apart, this raises a fundamental question - why did India go for a hereditary caste system when Muslims crashed through the mountains. How and why did India decide that a traditional caste system is the surest bet to stop Islam - and it actually, did.
@dr_gsharma @Rashtriya2021 @Rupeshpa2 @PrasunNagar This is the story of North India. Now, come to South India, which didn't face demographic pressure. The answer is Rajaraja Chola. You need to note that Lal Ded(around 1300 AD) talks about rhinoceros in Kashmir, an indication of the forest cover in India.
@dr_gsharma @Rashtriya2021 @Rupeshpa2 @PrasunNagar Now, looking at the origin of Cholas and other early kingdoms in India like the Haryankas (Khandava Dahana anyone?), there were no kingdoms. It was a bunch of isolated settlements which declared allegiance to a king. As and when population pressure increased, reclaim of forests.
@dr_gsharma @Rashtriya2021 @Rupeshpa2 @PrasunNagar In fact, that is considered to be one of the greatest achievements of the mythical Trilochana Pallava. This game went on till almost 1500 AD in India. Now, who are those who will reclaim the lands? Farmers. They follow the army train, make the new area livable.
@dr_gsharma @Rashtriya2021 @Rupeshpa2 @PrasunNagar Other words, you are looking at soldiers who can double as farmers. This raised a situation where the landholder(Tamil = Vanniyar caste) held the prime land in the kingdom and held massive influence. No one had a problem because of the division of labour.
@dr_gsharma @Rashtriya2021 @Rupeshpa2 @PrasunNagar But, the population of Chola country was not sufficient to erupt upon a wider theatre. You will see that Pallavas and everyone - they stopped at Nellore most of the time - the kingdom was between Palar in the north and Kaveri in the South almost all the time.
@dr_gsharma @Rashtriya2021 @Rupeshpa2 @PrasunNagar When Rajaraja decided to cross the traditional boundaries into Gangavadi and Vengi, he needed more soldiers. His Vanniyars are not sufficient. He recruited the hill tribes into his army. Some of them became capable leaders as usual and matter of time they too started to become
@dr_gsharma @Rashtriya2021 @Rupeshpa2 @PrasunNagar a part of this reclamation project. Now, you have two competing groups claiming to be the superior in the society - the old landed castes and the new upstarts. Caste hierarchy is a consequence of this competition.
@dr_gsharma @Rashtriya2021 @Rupeshpa2 @PrasunNagar In fact, this is the reason why some castes don't allow Brahmins to officiate in their Pujas - they wrote their stories like they were the original priestly class toppled by someone else. It's a coincidence that both of these events happened at the same time.
@dr_gsharma @Rashtriya2021 @Rupeshpa2 @PrasunNagar We have two strains here - caste hierarchy as a response to Islam, caste hierarchy as a response to expansion of society and crush the new upstarts. It's a matter of time this grouping of convenience spread.
@dr_gsharma @Rashtriya2021 @Rupeshpa2 @PrasunNagar And note, rebellions were soon coming - Padmanayakas in Chola Empire and Lingayat in Chalukya(Kalachiris of Kalyani) Empire. In all it's history, caste system always faced challenges in upholding - someone or the other rebelled from time to time.
@dr_gsharma @Rashtriya2021 @Rupeshpa2 @PrasunNagar Srivaishnavas, Varkari, Mahanubhava, Lingayat and even recently, Pranami, Brahmakumaris and many such. However, there are fleeting references of caste system - Nammalwar, one of the original proponents of Bhakti movement is a Sudra.
@dr_gsharma @Rashtriya2021 @Rupeshpa2 @PrasunNagar Whether it's on birth or on his family before he became a saint, no clue. This is why I say. Caste system exists in India. Caste hierarchy exists. The question is why did it form, what were the triggers, how did it fare with the contemporary world and
@dr_gsharma @Rashtriya2021 @Rupeshpa2 @PrasunNagar how did Islam and christianity shape it to what it is today. There are other stuffs as well - for example, when Haider Ali invaded Malabar, he literally hunted the ruling Nairs like dogs and forced them to respect the lowest of the castes.
@dr_gsharma @Rashtriya2021 @Rupeshpa2 @PrasunNagar How many such incidents happened, which forcibly tried to alter the existing order and create a world of hate? Or the British meddling in Valangai-Idangai fights. Even into 1700s, these two caste groupings gathered at their temples sensing a riot under their own banners -
@dr_gsharma @Rashtriya2021 @Rupeshpa2 @PrasunNagar and fought together with the other group. You will see toddy tappers and Brahmins engaging together in street brawls with some other castes like goldsmiths or potters. Where did the hierarchy disappear then?
@dr_gsharma @Rashtriya2021 @Rupeshpa2 @PrasunNagar After a bloody riot in Madras in which the Brits were forced to bring in the army, Brits ordered that only Union Jack should be flown. And in a matter of years, temple assets were seized in both Bengal and Madras because
@dr_gsharma @Rashtriya2021 @Rupeshpa2 @PrasunNagar they knew the strength of these people and consequently, India lies in it's temples. Is it possible that, with no reason to join forces for a common cause, caste lines widened? Udipi Pejawar Swami once said, caste can never be abolished.
@dr_gsharma @Rashtriya2021 @Rupeshpa2 @PrasunNagar In fact, it should stay because it preserves traditions. It's the caste hierarchy which is the problem. And that means we need to find out what is this caste hierarchy, where and how it came from and why did it become what it is, today.
@dr_gsharma @Rashtriya2021 @Rupeshpa2 @PrasunNagar This brings us back to the original set of questions I posed and the need to answer them because most of the myths surrounding caste oppression originate from that set of questions. Whatever I wrote, whether you believe it's true or not, anthropology of caste needs a closer look.
@dr_gsharma @Rashtriya2021 @Rupeshpa2 @PrasunNagar In fact, India never lost territory through conquest to Islam after that. The only two areas in India which became Muslim majority are Kashmir(through deceit - Read about Kota Rani and Rinchan) and Bangladesh(Maratha pressure forced Muslims to flee).
@dr_gsharma @Rashtriya2021 @Rupeshpa2 @PrasunNagar Is this the reason why caste system became such vilified in India? Because it stopped abrahamization? If you notice, special treatment was given only to Brahmins in a war - Palakkad fort, Tipu Sultan lobbed the heads of Brahmins and not of any other caste(why?) through cannons.
@dr_gsharma @Rashtriya2021 @Rupeshpa2 @PrasunNagar Again, it makes one question, if these castes are really oppressed, why didn't they convert en masse? When Jaziya induced a mass conversion of Zorastrians in Persia, why didn't it happen in India? Why is it that people converted only because of sword or a rice bowl?
@dr_gsharma @Rashtriya2021 @Rupeshpa2 @PrasunNagar And the bigger question. How did it happen that all those religions which guaranteed equality(Buddhism, Islam, christianty) -> why did they start practicing caste system?
