Religion and the Roots Of India's Caste System

The June 21 front-page article"A 'Broken People' in Booming India; Low-Caste Dalits Still Face Prejudice, Grinding Poverty" contained a popular misconception about Hinduism.

The article quoted Chandra Bhan Prasad, a Dalit writer and "expert" on India's caste system, as saying that "it's worse than the Jim Crow laws were in the American South because it's completely sanctioned by religion."

I am not sure what part of the caste system Ms. Prasad believes is sanctioned by religion. While the Bhagavad-Gita mentions four "varnas," or castes, according to one's qualities and characteristics, the caste system was originally designed to promote the harmonious workings of society. The Gita does not say that a person's caste is to be determined by birth but rather by behavior. Under such a system, a lower-caste person can be promoted to a higher caste through the attainment of knowledge and other virtues, while a higher-caste Brahman can be demoted for not living up to high values.

That said, the system became corrupted and rigid over time as higher castes, such as the Brahmans, sought to maintain power by not allowing members of lower castes to move up.

In addition, the article could have noted that Hinduism does not compel anyone to remain a Hindu. As a result of caste-based exploitations and deprivations, millions of lower-caste Hindus, such as the thousands of Dalits who became Buddhists in Mumbai last month, have converted to other religions.

DEV KAR

Oakton