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Origin of the Caste System in India

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OPSC OAS Sociology Paper II, Unit 2: Caste System. 11-section notes on Origin of the Caste System in India.

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    ← Unit 2: Caste System

    1. Origin of the Caste System in India: Introduction

    A Unique and Contested Social Institution

    DefinitionCaste is one of the most distinctive and enduring features of Indian civilization — a form of social stratification found nowhere else on earth in quite the same form. The word 'caste' derives from the Portuguese 'casta' (meaning race, lineage, or pure stock), itself from the Latin 'castus' (clean, pure, pious). But the phenomenon it describes is uniquely Indian, with roots stretching back over 3,000 years to the Vedic period.

    Understanding the origin of the caste system is one of the most contested questions in Indian sociology. No single theory provides a complete explanation — because caste is not the product of one factor but of multiple converging historical forces: religious ideology, occupational specialization, racial conquest, political power, and kinship rules. The Census of India (1931) acknowledged five main theories, and scholars since have added several more.
    Why Origin Matters for Sociology
    The question of caste origin is not merely historical — it has profound contemporary implications. If caste originated purely from divine decree (Theory 1), then challenging it is impious. If it originated from occupation (Theory 3), then it can be reformed by changing occupational patterns. If it originated from Aryan conquest (Theory 6), then it is a system of racial domination. Each theory implies a different strategy for social change — which is why Ambedkar, Gandhi, and the RSS each held different origin theories as the basis of their caste reform (or anti-reform) positions.

    Key pointEach theory of caste origin implies a different strategy for social change.
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    In these notes
    1. Origin of the Caste System in India: Introduction
    2. Definitions of Caste: Ketkar and Anderson
    3. G.S. Ghurye's Definition: Six Features of Caste
    4. Louis Dumont's Definition: Purity/Pollution as Master Principle
    5. Theory 1: Divine Origin of Caste
    6. Theory 2: Karma and Transmigration
    7. Theory 3: Occupational Theory (Nesfield, 1885)
    8. Theory 4: Tribal / Conquest Theory
    9. Theory 5: Racial Theory (Risley, 1908)
    10. Theory 6: Senart's Family/Marriage Theory (1930)
    11. Theory 7: Political / Brahmanical Conspiracy Theory

    Sourced from the Odisha Public Service Commission where applicable. opsc.gov.in. EduSaint is not affiliated with OPSC.