Originally, when the Aryans came to India, they had 3 castes ( Varna) - namely Brahmans ( priests, teachers and doctors), Kshatriyas ( rulers and warriors) and Vaishyas ( peasants and pastoralists). This was simply done for division of labour. People were free to change their caste and occupation. read more
Upon contract with the local population in India, they designated the caste of Shudras to the Indians. The occupation of the Shudras was simply to serve the other three varnas ( castes). That's when the caste system became rigid. read more
Home » India and The Himalayas » The Caste System of Ancient India The Caste System For thousands of years on the Indian subcontinent, a person’s social class was determined by birth. read more
The caste system in India is the paradigmatic ethnographic example of caste. It has origins in ancient India, and was transformed by various ruling elites in medieval, early-modern, and modern India, especially the Mughal Empire and the British Raj. It is today the basis of educational and job reservations in India. read more