CYCLE DE CONFERENCES SUR L'INDE LUNDI 16 NOVEMBRE 2015
CASTE SYSTEM AND SOCIAL CLASSES
Conférence-débat en anglais animée par Sendil Nagapattinam Kasi, consultant en géopolitique
What is a caste?
Traditional definition of the varna (colours) according to the
Rig Veda
 Brahmana, the priestly caste
 Kshatriya, the warrior caste
 Vaishya, the merchants and craftsmen caste
 Sudra, the farmers caste
Outside the Varna system
 Paria / Untouchable / Harijan / Dalit
 Dasa / Tribal / Girijan / Adivasi
Modern definition of Jati (births) according to ongoing social
practice
 Precisely defined professions and trades:
o Yadav: cow herdsmen (Sudra)
Caste according to law
 The traditional mindset of the Indian National Congress founders: an upper caste
party
 Gandhian humanism: compassionate conservatism?
 Ambedkar’s revolt: quotas for Dalit and Adivasi
 Quotas in Central Govt public services and educational institutions
 Quota extension to lower castes at a local level: each state sets up its own OBC
list (Other Backward Castes)
 Upper caste hostile reaction: The FCs reject the Jain commission conclusions
Caste according to social practice
 Discrepancies between traditional position in the hierarchy and newly-acquired
economic status
 Rise of the caste-based political parties
 New violence, old humiliation
 Rural / urban difference
o Chamar: tanners (Dalit)
o Thakur: landlords (Kshatriya)
 Srtictly endogamous communities
 A fluctuating position in the social hierarchy across centuries
o Jat: shepherds who have become landlords (Sudra > Kshatriya)
o Nadar: coconut tree climbers who have become shopkeepers (Dalit >
Vaishya)
o Kallar: soldiers who have become watchmen or thieves (Kshatriya > Sudra)
DATE lundi 16 novembre 2015, de 18h à 19h30
LIEU Blue Office, 5 avenue Carnot, 91300 Massy
TARIF 13 €, 16 € ou 21 € TTC selon l'abonnement choisi
INSCRIPTIONS https://www.weezevent.com/conferences-inde
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