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Patterns of Life – India

Patterns of Life – India. Sabrina Carro , Alyse Jung, and Eric Tevelson. Caste System. India’s Caste System. Caste Breakdown. Aryan had four varna (classes) Later, a fifth group called “ untouchables ” with thousands of subcastes Lowest levels of society

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Patterns of Life – India

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  1. Patterns of Life – India Sabrina Carro, Alyse Jung, and Eric Tevelson

  2. Caste System

  3. India’s Caste System (Ahmad, et. al.)

  4. Caste Breakdown • Aryan had four varna (classes) • Later, a fifth group called “untouchables” with thousands of subcastes • Lowest levels of society • Caste system was imbedded in law, custom, and religion • Provided stability and order • Different castes depended on one another for services and their contributions to society (Ahmad, et. al.)

  5. Higher Castes • Being up high in caste system = purer and closer to Moksha • Moksha is the freeing of the soul from the body so the soul can unite with brahman the single supreme force • Had stricter rules • Someone could become impure if he or she interacts with lower class (Ahmad, et. al.)

  6. Lower Castes • Rough lives • No choice but to accept the view of their unworthiness (Ahmad, et. al.)

  7. Rules • Were enforced by canals of each caste • Had council that enforced the rules • Were important so people would remain spiritually pure (Ahmad, et. al.)

  8. Rules (cont.) • Determined: • Which gods the caste worshipped • Where the caste lived • What clothes were worn • People’s manners • Employment • Eating habits (Brahman can only eat food prepared by other Brahman) • Marriage (must marry within caste) (Ahmad, et. al.)

  9. Hindu Castes • All Hindus are divided among four varna and a fifth group, known as the untouchables. • The jati are kinship groups with hereditary roles and professions within society (“Castes”)

  10. Hindu Castes Background • Hindu caste system (The Varna) • Developed in the period 1500-1000 B.C.E. • Result of the Aryan conquest of India • Thought that they divided themselves into the three highest Varnas • the division of: • Priests (Roughly equivalent to Brahmans) • Warrior Kings (Kshatriya) • Commoners (Vaishya) (“Castes”)

  11. Possible Explanations • Mythological explanations for caste system. • One explanation describes a family that was supposedly descended from Brahma, the mythical forefather of Hinduism • Within that family, the father served as teacher and priest (Brahman) • Son served as warrior and protector (Kshatriya) • Sister took care of the household duties (Vaishya). • Another explanation is similar to Noah's arc, after the flood the human race were divided into 4 groups • The caste system in India is linked to the beliefs of Hindu religion (“Castes”)

  12. Village Life

  13. Villages • Basic unit of society • Mostly self sufficient • People would often meet and mingle during regional markets and religious festivals • Varies from handful of people to hundreds of families • Variety of castes and occupations (priests, landowners, farmers, herders, carpenters, metalworkers, and low castes such as leather workers and sweepers) • Men organized villagers to work on local projects (i.e. roads, irrigation ditches, temples). (Ahmad, et. al.)

  14. Head of the Village • Respected landlord governed village • Helped by council of elders • Usually inherited position from father • Owned much of the land in the village • Landless workers farmed plots belonging to landlord • Had to give him part of the harvest (Ahmad, et. al.)

  15. Village Farming • Wheat, barley, rice, millet, peas, lentils, beans, and cotton were grown • Had cattle for plowing, transporting goods, and milk • Milk for cheese, yogurt, and a butter called ghee • Cattle were sacred for economic importance (Ahmad, et. al.)

  16. Family Life • Joint family = many generations in one home (Ahmad, et. al.)

  17. Men in the Family • Patriarchal = male dominance • Oldest male • Wisest and most knowledgeable • Has complete control • Consults with others for arranged marriages (Ahmad, et. al.)

  18. Strong Family Ties • Family Interests > Individual Interests • Marriages were arranged by parents at an early age • Weddings were big ceremonies • Bride’s family paid dowry (gift of money paid to groom) • Higher the family’s caste, the more costly the marriage (Ahmad, et. al.)

  19. The Village Community: Settlement and Structure • India has about 500,000 villages • Most are small • 80% have less than 1,000 people • Variety of castes but homes usually set apart • Villages are complex, not simple • Characterized by economics, caste, kinship, occupation, and religion • Some villages have non-traditional occupations • (i.e. shopkeepers, teachers, truckers, clerks) • Each village is somehow connected to other villages (“Village”)

  20. The Village Community: Village Unity and Divisiveness • Villagers identify themselves as belonging to certain village • Family rooted in a village does not easily move to another • Villagers share common facilities • Schools, temples, etc. • Each village recognizes a deity (village protector/protectoress) • Whom is worshipped • Hindu festivals bring villagers together • Living so closely causes many disputes, sometimes violence (“Village”)

  21. Women’s Rights

  22. Women's Lives • Few rights • Marriage • Obedient towards husband • Bear sons • Believed to have shakti (creative energy) • Women thought to lack knowledge to control their power • Men lack it, so they must marry in order to control wife’s power (Ahmad, et. al.)

  23. Women’s Lives (cont.) • The higher-caste women lived inpurdah • Purdah is complete seclusion • Wore veils • Rarely left home • Kept separate from all men except for their husbands and close relatives (Ahmad, et. al.)

  24. Women’s Lives (cont.) • Widows were forbidden to remarry • Expected to spend life in prayer and give up all comforts • Considered unlucky, so ignored by other family members • Some threw selves into fire at husband’s funeral • Became sati (virtuous women) • In sacrificing her life, a widow wiped away sins of husband and self (Ahmad, et. al.)

  25. Mistreatment Of Women • Currently there are many mistreatments of women that include: • Malnutrition • Poor Health • Lack of education • Overwork • No Job Skills • Mistreatment • Powerlessness (Coonrod)

  26. Mistreatment of Women • Many of these problems occurred due to a patriarchal society • Women are discriminated against at any turn • Certain statistics are rising alarmingly in recent years. • “Every 26 minutes a woman is molested” • “Every 34 minutes a rape takes place” • “Every 42 minutes a sexual harassment incident occurs” • “Every 43 minutes a woman is kidnapped” • “Every 93 minutes a woman is burnt to death over dowry.” (Coonrod)

  27. Mistreatment of Women • Women are technically guaranteed equality, but there is little legal power behind them • Women have no choice who they marry • Often married off as children • Inheritance laws are also up-ended by legal loopholes • Very little can be done to stop the circumventing of the system set by the constitution (Coonrod)

  28. Thank you for your attention! Sabrina, Alyse and Eric

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