Today, India seems to be the only modern democratic country that has reservations in the system based on castes. The nation of size that of India, the largest democracy in the world still believes in reservations based on the castes of the people. At the time of writing this blog, I see that there are reservations in all facets of life education, job and now even in promotion in jobs. And many people and communities in this country are ready and desperate to be called backward. 

From where did we have so many castes? Who created these castes? 

This blog tries a neutral, third person view of origins of castes and its purpose. These findings are based on various discussions I had on this subject with Late Shri Satish ji, an expert on the subject and my own findings. 

Caste system is Jaati Vyavastha (जाती व्यवस्था ) not supported or emanated from Vedas. What vedik system refers to is Varna Vyavastha (वर्ण व्यवस्था ). Varna Vyavastha is rooted in the nature. It is inevitable, universal and perpetual.  Nature’s main trait is variety. No two things are similar. Even leaves of the same tree and branch are not exactly the same. Variety gives rise to utility. Every thing does not have all or same qualities. Therefore, Varna meaning color or grade will have variable uses - utility. That is why the basic quality which determined variety is Guna and Karma – aptitude, capability and variance in  its usage according to utility. The four Varnas have been explained in Brihadaranyaka Upanishad are need of the creation i.e. projection of world – Shrusti. Creativity (represented in brahma thereby brahmanas). Action for self preservation – represented in gods i.e. indra, agni, varuna, rudra called kshatra (root word tra indicates protection  therefore kshatriya . Generating wealth for sustained growth (in Sanskrit Vishitva) are Vaishya gods – Vasus. In human beings generating Vaibhava by Vaishyas. Then the primary need is holding on to for stability is Pushya represented by goddess Prithvi, in human beings people who give stability by there physical work- labour- efforts  are called Shudra. This word is not to be confused with another word Kshudra which means inferior.

As told earlier these qualities are universal – applicable to all people at all the places and in all times. Even our constitution providers for the nation’s well being the division such as legislature,  judiciary, executive and beurocracy.

Now coming to caste or Jaati. They are post Vedic dispensation variable as per the time and place and not a permanent structure. They are the need of the hour. Society for its being well run and fullfilling all its day to day needs various trades and functions. Bal Shastri Haridas in his book Reflection of Vedic Society enlists numerous such trades & functions. These functions are always needed for an organised society and so the people / person who will render these services. Smallest unit of a society is village or Janapada.

Persons who have to render these services inevitably needed to be trained. This training was imparted in most inexpensive and efficient way in the smallest unit in society – family. A person can get free training with lodging and boarding facility in the house by performing parents - an on job training. So, moment a person is born her/his getting trained with job assurance and clientele without any capitation fees for life long sustenance. So, it was linked to the birth, root- word “Jaa” means born and so the Jaati Vyavastha. Any one needing to change the birth based trade was free to do so if he/she can afford the cost and attendant risk factors. Therefore people opted for heredity trade. Even today an advocate’s son or doctor’s son can easily groom for being advocate or doctor for the herediting well set office and clientele. Never the less one can opt for change if capable of meeting the entailing challenges. Cast – system is also ancient because reference of caste in society occur in Treta – Yuga’s Ramayana.

Over a period of time caste system became rigid and degenerated from its noble standard. So in order to reset the balance in society our constitution provides  for reservation. Founding fathers of the constitutions, including Dr. B.R. Ambedkar were not for reservation as a perpetual dispensation.