Caste system: ideology and practise?

The caste system is the name given to a system of discrimination that has been practised in India for 1000s of years. It is similar to any other system of discrimination in that it involves giving different rights to people of different background. In this case, it involves the social stratification and social restrictions of different tribes and sects within the Indian subcontinent, in which social classes are defined by thousands of endogamous hereditary groups, often termed as "jĝtis" or "castes". It is a form of systematic discrimination just like racism: which is dicrimination based on the persons race or ethnicity. In the West, before the 19th century, the evil of racism led to the organised trade in slaves and resulted in the huge amount of misery to the peoples of Africa.

Although the caste system is generally identified with Hinduism, it was also observed among followers of other religions in the Indian subcontinent, including some groups of Muslims and Christians. The Indian Constitution has outlawed caste-based discrimination, in keeping with the socialist, secular, democratic principles that founded the nation. Caste barriers have mostly broken down in large cities, though they persist in rural areas of the country. Nevertheless, the caste system, in various forms, continues to survive in modern India strengthened by a combination of social perceptions and divisive politics.

The situation in the West is not a lot better either! The iniquity of racism in the West resulted in many evils in this society. The end og the slave trade did not bring an end to this horrible practise. Apartheid and the segregation of different races continued well into the 20th century. Black and brown races were not allowed to openly share in the society's resources until the 1950s. Unfortunately, forms of discrimination in modern society have continued well into the present.

It is well known that the Sikh Gurus first preached the message of non-discrimination and equality many 100s of years ago. Since about 1499, when Guru Nanak first began his five world tours to spread the message of peace and commpassion, there have been a very clear voice against caste and race discrimination. From 1500, the world has known that to discrimnate based on the person's caste or race is wrong; this knowledge has been around for all of the world to embrace. The Guru Granth Sahib records the actual words of Guru Nanak in Raag Asa as: