India: Traditional India: Traditional Patterns of LifePatterns of Life““The traditional patterns of life in The traditional patterns of life in India revolve around the idea of India revolve around the idea of duty”duty”

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What are the drawbacks and benefits in a What are the drawbacks and benefits in a society where role and duties are clearly society where role and duties are clearly defined? defined?

What role does the idea of duty play in What role does the idea of duty play in your life?your life?

Doing one’s duty Doing one’s duty ensures the moral ensures the moral order of the universeorder of the universe

It’s better to do one’s own duty badly that another’s duty well

Introduction to Caste Video

Caste/Family Life/Village Caste/Family Life/Village LifeLife

All gave a person a role in society and All gave a person a role in society and rules to live by to ignore would disrupt rules to live by to ignore would disrupt societysociety

Gives structureGives structure

Why has the caste Why has the caste system existed for so system existed for so long?long?

Caste system deeply embedded in law, Caste system deeply embedded in law, custom, and religious tradition.custom, and religious tradition.

The Caste SystemThe Caste System According to the sacred texts (Vedas)According to the sacred texts (Vedas) System of social groups based on birth System of social groups based on birth

1: Brahmans – the priests/religious 1: Brahmans – the priests/religious leaders who recite and learn the Vedasleaders who recite and learn the Vedas

2: Kshatriyas – warriors, leaders, nobles, 2: Kshatriyas – warriors, leaders, nobles, landownerslandowners

3: Vaishyas – merchants and traders3: Vaishyas – merchants and traders 4: Sudras – those who work with their 4: Sudras – those who work with their

hands, included farmers, artisans, hands, included farmers, artisans, carpenters, etc.carpenters, etc.

5: Untouchables (Harijan/Dalit) - included 5: Untouchables (Harijan/Dalit) - included morticians and anyone who did unclean morticians and anyone who did unclean things, homelessthings, homeless Harijan: Children of GodHarijan: Children of God

CasteCaste not based on wealthnot based on wealth Gave role in society on rules to live byGave role in society on rules to live by Seen as holding a diverse group togetherSeen as holding a diverse group together

Divides todayDivides today 1000’s of castes 1000’s of castes

Within castes there were levels, called Within castes there were levels, called jati – jati – subcastesubcaste For example, in the Vaishya caste, a store owner would be For example, in the Vaishya caste, a store owner would be

higher than a traveling merchant. In most cases, same rules higher than a traveling merchant. In most cases, same rules of interaction would applyof interaction would apply

Higher castes more pure and closer to mokshaHigher castes more pure and closer to moksha Caste based partly on occupationCaste based partly on occupation

Caste RulesCaste Rules

ComplexComplex Meant to keep people spiritually pure = Meant to keep people spiritually pure =

mokshamoksha Rule more strict for higher castesRule more strict for higher castes

Protect from spiritual pollutionProtect from spiritual pollution

Rules govern: cooking, eating habits, Rules govern: cooking, eating habits, marriage, employment, worshipmarriage, employment, worship

Caste RulesCaste Rules

Interactions between castes were limited, most Interactions between castes were limited, most interaction was top downinteraction was top down Clappers for lower castes – shadow impureClappers for lower castes – shadow impure Marriage limited to own caste and even jatiMarriage limited to own caste and even jati

Each caste even has dietary restrictionsEach caste even has dietary restrictions Brahmans are vegetariansBrahmans are vegetarians

eat only food prepared by other Brahmaneat only food prepared by other Brahman Other castes could be limited to certain meats and Other castes could be limited to certain meats and

spicesspices

Caste RulesCaste Rules

which Gods to worshipwhich Gods to worship where to livewhere to live what to wearwhat to wear Manners: Manners:

greet in certain waysgreet in certain ways lower caste not sit in presence of higher castelower caste not sit in presence of higher caste

Each caste had a council to enforce caste rulesEach caste had a council to enforce caste rules Created interdependence: stability and orderCreated interdependence: stability and order

Castes looked after their own but depended on Castes looked after their own but depended on other castes other castes

Caste video

Village LifeVillage Life

Most commonMost common Basic unit of society – varied in size – variety of castesBasic unit of society – varied in size – variety of castes Headman: Headman:

governed the village – landlord – inherited positiongoverned the village – landlord – inherited position Made decisions – organized work projectsMade decisions – organized work projects

Self-sufficient = all jobs based on casteSelf-sufficient = all jobs based on caste Landlord: controlled most land Landlord: controlled most land

Tenant farming: paid with part of harvestTenant farming: paid with part of harvest Cattle economic importance: plowing, transportation, Cattle economic importance: plowing, transportation,

milk productsmilk products GheeGhee

Pandit Roop Chand, headman of Tajpur village

Other Aspects of Early Other Aspects of Early Hindu LifeHindu Life

FamilyFamily Indentified first with familyIndentified first with family Joint families (everyone lived together) – like extended Joint families (everyone lived together) – like extended

familyfamily The eldest male led the family (patriarchal) – may The eldest male led the family (patriarchal) – may

consult with wifeconsult with wife Property belonged to every member of the familyProperty belonged to every member of the family

Father Knows Best

Other Aspects of Early Other Aspects of Early Hindu LifeHindu Life

Children and ParentsChildren and Parents Children learned form their parents (how to follow their Children learned form their parents (how to follow their

caste)caste) Arranged marriages: page 192Arranged marriages: page 192

Children little or no sayChildren little or no say to benefit familyto benefit family girls became part of husband's familygirls became part of husband's family In some parts of India, the marriage of a daughter included a In some parts of India, the marriage of a daughter included a

dowry: gift to groom's familydowry: gift to groom's family Higher the caste more costlyHigher the caste more costly

Other Aspects of Early Other Aspects of Early Hindu LifeHindu Life

WomenWomen Few rights – obey husbandFew rights – obey husband Duties: marry, wait on husband, bear sonsDuties: marry, wait on husband, bear sons Influence within the familyInfluence within the family

Shakti: creative energy – women had but men controlled – Shakti: creative energy – women had but men controlled – men incomplete without womenmen incomplete without women

Higher castes: purdah: seclusionHigher castes: purdah: seclusion public had to be covered (like Muslims)public had to be covered (like Muslims)

Sati/Suttee – virtuous womenSati/Suttee – virtuous women ritual suicide when a husband diedritual suicide when a husband died

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What are the benefits and drawbacks in a What are the benefits and drawbacks in a society where role and duties are clearly society where role and duties are clearly defined? defined?

What role does the idea of duty play in What role does the idea of duty play in your life?your life?