The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-11-13
Caste In India

London Times speaks of 6 discussion
which recently took place 10 the Ben
gal Socisl Science Association, upon
the benefits aud evils Of caste.
The discussion was significant as
showing the vital change which is
being rapidly produced 10 Indian
thought and Hindoo customs By the
DO werful influence Of western thought
and science: also for the astounding
fact that among O large gathering of
learned high caste native gentlemen,
only one speaker ventured to defend
what has slways been deemed by
Europeans to constitute the most
cherished fabric of the Hindoo social
system.
The speaker who introduced the
topic spoke ia favor of some redeem
ing features Of caste. He admitted
/ that caste imposed undue restrictions
on intermarriage and social inter-
course bet different c~astes; that
it restricted certain sections of soeie.
tv to certain occupations; that it him
dered the adaptation Of people to al
tered social conditions; bat contended
that these drawbacks were fully COM
peasated for by many substantial adj
vaatages.
Among these he enumerated the
feeling Of self.respect and ambition
induced by descent from q noble an
cestry and inclusion 10 a veneFated
caste; the neral restraint caused by
fear of transgrsssing ssste rules aud
disgraeing caste character; greater
proficiency and skill in a handicraft
resulting from the hereditary practice
Of particular industries; the absence
Of all sense of degradation aud hum
iliation associated with the pursuit Of
manual labor; the cheeFfulness aud
content with which different castles
performed their allotted occupations;
the protection afforded TO members Of
each particular caste, aad assistance
in times Of necessity.
The speakers who followed were
all opposed to caste restrictions
One Of them stated that be was a
Koolin, a Brahmin, thai is, Of The
highest class, but that he was per-
tectly prepared to surrender all his
hereditary privileges in consideration
of the evil which the system Of class
was now producing.
Il had It's uses when first establish
ed, but now, an anacbronism, it stood
IN the way Of national Improvement.
At one time it did exercise a sort Of
social check upon native society, but
now it was merely q means OF extor-
ton.
A man might violate suy rule of
society, bat all it was necessary TO
do to be received back into bis caste
was to spend a few rupees. 4 man
might commit aay offence a3d actual
" be sent to goal, bat be would still
be received back again iato bis caste,
and fathers would actually marry
their daughters to him.
DISTINCTION ef caste had closed the
exercise Of healthy influence over ma
tive society, and therefore the sooner
ali sects were fused into one harmon
ions whole the better, for all these
distinctions only served to stay all
political Advancement
Although be was q Koolin Brah-
min, he would like to marry bis only
child, to 8 healthy, robust young man,
irrespective of caste limits.
Ia ell sincerity, be felt the useless
ness Of preserving a fabric already
totteriDg. Another speaker in the
course of a very able speech, said,
Next, let Us see if as a matter of
fact, the institution of caste has any
reGeeming features. Ii has been said
that caste in our ccuntry exercises
those salusary Influences ia the re-
preston of vice aud w~sntonness
which are exercised 10 ether countries
by public opinion, and hence that so
long as no strong public opinion is
created 10 keep Us in check, it is right
that we should obey a canon Of caste
The first, and original purpose Of that
institution. however, was now to dis
charge the functions Of public opinion,
nor does Il exercise such influence
now ; bat if it does, it does SO for the
worse, for what 10 the existing state
Of Thugs p0isons, what the moral
sense o. the whole enlightened world
condemns as most deadly, is suffered
10 circulate freely.
While caste brings down all its
pressure, ali its rigor aud terrors upon
imaginary evils, the murderer, pufjar-
er, robber, adulterer, drunksri, and
other equally infamous characters GO
on perpetra-iBg al kinds of injury
without he fear Of excommuoication.
Caste RACES against and frowns down
ali those seeking The ~regenerstija Of
their coultry By intermerriage, while
T. utters 10 single wcrd Of ceusure
against The swindler or cheat.
If to-day / open ny Zenana doors
AMI bring forth my wife and daugb-
ter to IA with the sisters OF
the west, TO morrow i shall be an
o%atcast, and my neme branded with
infamy forever"