Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1910-12-21
IRONCLAD CASTE.
Its Rule Among the Hindus Abso-
lutte and Interchangeable.
THE POWER OF Tie BRAHMAN
All the Wealth of the World Would
Not Enable Lower Caste Hindu to
Wed into His Family or Touch HE
Hand-Tyrsnnieal Social Divisions.

Not Enable Lower Caste Hindu GO
Wed Into His Family or Touch His
Hand-Tyrannieal Social Divisions.
Caste distinction In India Is a thing
difficult for n foreigner 10 comprehend
All the racial or religious distinctions
which separate European nations from
each other and divide them within
themselves do not equal the number OF
classes into which the Hindus are III
vided by what IS known as caste"
The 2O0.OOO.OOO Hindus are made up
of diverse racial elements and speak
ah0~t nineteen developed languages
over 100 dialects. They are again
divided into over 5000 castles. most OF
them with subcaStcs one OF these
castles. the Brahmans. Is split up into
moro than 500 SahcaStes. OF which none
Will intermarry and few will eat to-
gcther
The term caste" includes 80 many
things that II Is difficult % define II.
There are. however. two properties es-
scntial 90 a true castc-drst. there Is no
entry except by birth: second. mar
riage outside the caste Is absolutely
forbidden. To preserve the purity and
maintain the cNclusivcness OF the So
ciety many minute rules OF conduct.
many restrictions on food and many
ceremonial ohservanccs are imposed on
the members and enforced 10y penalties
which cannot b. cvadcd. against which
there Is no appeal and which In ex-
treme cases follow the offender beyond
the grave.
But that Is not all. The relations Of
castles to each other are rs much a
matter OF religious observance as the
rules for their internal regulation. The
Brahmans are the highest admittedly
and undoubtedly superior TO all the
rest. After them come those who are
Acknowledged TO bc twice born. The
less hOnored follow IN graduated de-
scent until the untouchablc and ur-
speakabie ore reached at the lowest
depth
II may be urged that the separation
between the Brahman and. let us say.
the kurmi market gardener is no wider
than that between the peer OF tho
United Kingdom and the coal miner.
There is this essential direrence-that
u Is impossible for an Indian 10
change his caste. The coal miner may
be elected 10 parliament. may become
cabinet minister and If he can make
money enough may marry his son 10 a
dukes daughter.
The kurmi must remain n Kurmi
All the wealth OF Croesus Will not on
able him Ia make an alliance with a
Brahman family or To touch a Brab-
mans hand. The members OF n caste
may and In some cases do raise Them
selves In the sight OF other castles by
adopting more elaborate ceremonies
and more scrupulous observances.
half civilized Gond. for examine
may find himself brought into contact
with Hindns rs the piow encroaches
on the forest He tries 10 raise his no.
Sition and add 10 his self respect bv
adopting the exclusiveness OF his Hin
du neighbors. lie Will even outdo
them If he can, aud IL the Hindu is
scrupulous about his food the convert
Will wash the very wood with which
his dinner Is cooked.
No endeavors of this kind. however
viii avail 10 lessen by a hairs breadth
the distance between him and the
caste Hindu or even TO induce the
Hindu barber 10 look upon him as n
client whose chin he may shave and
whose toe nails he may pare without
degradation.
Another point connected with caste
which has very practical bearing
and must be taken into account is the
power of coercion which II gives 10 the
brotherhood. II a man is excommuni-
Gated by his caste fellows nobody in
the caste will marry him or viii ac-
cept water from his hands or will emf
with him.
III he Is married his wife will not
touch him or speak to him. He f.
dead to his family. The priest viii not
perform ceremonies for him. The VIII
iage barber Will not shave hira. and
the washerwoman will not wash his
clothes- Theso are the methods OF
bringing pressure on the man. The
strictest boycott which Irishmen have
invented Is mild compared to the 1na,
sentence OF caste punchayat.
4 system like this is stern fact
which has TO be faced. There is not
ponce case or a civil case or a trial Mt
the sessions, there is hardly an an
Polntment to an Office In India Of
Whatever degree, In which the matter
OF caste has not to be considered IL
FORCES itself into every assessment OF
land revenue, into every adjudication
OF rent. 1t affects the administration
OF justice. the proceedings of munich
pal and district councils.
The influence and power OF the
Brahman and the idea that he is
above the law and is not to be nm
ished as other people are still alive.
aitnough d century OF British Justice
has done something toward Gradient.
Ing them. On the other hand the su6-
gestion that a man OF lower caste
might rise to an equality or nearer 10
an equality with members OF caste
above him Is unthinkable. Where tho
10" caste men are, there they must
remain. II they behave themselves
e Will be made up TO them In a future
oXlSfQnco II r,UA<.-.