Hinduism Has Sustained the Social Order of the Caste System

Introduction

The social order concept in Hindu refers to a situation where various aspects of the society fit specific people since individuals are different. Also, the basis of the moral duties framework is the social class or order. However, social order can also mean the maintenance of the status quo in society through the interaction of the social component such as cultural aspects, social behavior as well as social structures. Cultural aspects which are the main component of the society includes values, religious, and norms dictate the social order of the caste system. The universal religious in India is Hinduism that has maintained the social order. The paper presents evidence that supports the idea that social order of the caste system is the main concern of the religious since there is no effort done to eliminate the caste system social order.

Hinduism was more concerned with the social order because the religion did not make an effort to eradicate classes but instead the fifth class known as Dalits emerged. The social order was at high rate since racism advanced during the same period. It is also clear that religion supported social order because the new belief system started immediately after Aryans arrived into the Ganges and Indus Valley which was the same time when regional identities began. Sundra, Vaishya, Kshatriya, and Brahmin are the division that started during that period. The new division that emerged is the Dalits since the religion supported the social order of the caste system. Furthermore, there was a cultural restriction in the caste system which dominates for a long time than expected because Hinduism did not strive to eliminate the dominant cultural system of the caste system (Kadel).

The religion has failed to advise the Hindu society on the human right concept which made the social order in classical Hindu to overlook the role of the person distinctness in the caste system. An individual or even the family is not considered as the social unit but rather the purposes of inheritance and marriage. Conversely, the caste is the primary social unit. Therefore, the only justice and merit have limited space in the caste system despite being the constituent of the social order. Similarly, lack of human right in the caste system is fully ascribed to the religion (Quigley).

According to regional studies, Hinduism has failed to eliminate economic discrimination in loans, wages, employment, and occupation thus played a role in supporting social order in the cast system. The untouchable is not protected by the religion since they are beaten or abused if they want to shift from the ancient occupation to another occupation. The studies further show that only 15 percent of the untouchable can change the occupation in the rural areas despite the religion having the ability to stop the acts (Bandyopādhyāẏa). The untouchable were also discriminated against the wages. Moreover, the religion was less concern for the well-being of the individual. No literature review highlights how Hinduism strived to eliminate such norms hence they were in favor of the social order.

The codes and norms of the traditional caste system still govern the social behavior present in the high castle Hindu especially in rural India according to the religion studies and official evidence. The basic sharing of food and tea between the untouchable and the high-castle is rare, the entry of untouchables to temples and private houses are limited in rural areas, the endogamy continues, and the untouchable settles ways from the high-castle locality. There are restriction and pressure on political participation and voting. The untouchables are discriminated in employment and are restricted to change occupation.

Conclusion

The available literature reveals that Hinduism is most concerned with maintaining the social order of the caste system. The caste system does not consider the human rights, and the religion fails to advise the society on the importance of human rights. The Hinduism was unable to campaign for the disbandment of the social classes in the caste system, but instead, the lowest class called Dalits was formed. The economic discrimination that on wages, employment, and occupation exists and the religion has failed to eliminate them. The untouchable are discriminated in other different aspects such as limited entry to temples, and private houses are limited and restriction of their settlement near high-castle locality.

Works Cited

Bandyopādhyāẏa, S. Caste, culture, and hegemony: Social domination in colonial Bengal. New Delhi: Sage Publications, 2004.

Kadel, B. S. “Caste: A Socio-political Institution in Hindu Society.” Janapriya Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies 3 (2017): 9-14.

Quigley, D. “On the Relationship between Caste and Hindulism.” Flood, Gavin. The Blackwell Companion to Hinduism. Blackwell Publisher, 2003. 501-608. Print. <http://cincinnatitemple.com/articles/BlackwellCompanionToHinduism.pdf#page=501>.