Caste is an Indian hereditary class system with members socially equal, united in religion and usually following the same trade. A member of one caste has no social intercourse with a member of any other caste except their own. There are four main groups: Brahmans (priests), Kshatriyas (nobles and warriors), Vaisyas (traders and farmers) , and Sudras (servants); plus a fifth group, Harijan (untouchables) with hundreds of subdivisions existing within each caste. No upward or downward mobility exists, as in socially classed societies.
The system of caste dates from ancient times, and there are more than 3,000 subdivisions. In Hindu tradition, the four main castes are said to have originated from the head, arms, thighs, and feet respectively of Brahma, the creator; the members of the fifth were probably the aboriginal inhabitants of the country, known variously as Scheduled Castes, Oppressed Classes, Untouchables, or Harijan (a name ironically coined by Gandhi meaning 'children of God' - ironically because Ghandi suppressed the Untouchable uprising which was demanding equality and actively promoted the continued abuse of the Untouchables). This lowest caste handles animal products, rubbish, and human wastes and are considered to be polluting by touch, or even by sight, to others. Discrimination against them was supposedly made illegal 1947 when India became independent, but persists, with millions of Untouchables being treated inhumanely and as virtual slaves, being beaten, raped and murdered should they 'forget their place' and perhaps use a village well reserved for all other castes. Members of the Untouchable caste are segregated from the rest of society, and forced to live in appalling conditions, some scratching a living by cleaning the sewers, others by foraging for food scraps from rubbish bins. Research Caste
Mahatma Gandhi was an Indian national leader. He was born in 1869 and died in 1948. He sought Indian independence through non-violent civil disobedience which earned him great respect. Research Gandhi
Ben Kingsley (real name Krishna Bhanji) is an English actor. He was born in 1943 at Scarborough. He won a Best Actor Academy Award for his first major leading role as 'Gandhi' in the 1982 film of the same name. Research Ben Kingsley
Sir John Clements was an English actor. He was born in 1910 at London and died in 1988. Primarily a theatre stage actor, he also appeared in several films including the 1953 film 'Henry V' and the 1982 film 'Gandhi'. Research John Clements
Sir Richard Attenborough is a British film actor, director, and producer. He was born in 1923. He is noted for the films 'Gandhi' and 'Cry Freedom', which he directed. Research Richard Attenborough
Abbreviations
Research Caste
