Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1910-10-20
IRONClAD CASTE.
Its Rule Among the Hindus Abso.
lutte and Interchangeable.
THE POWER OF THE BRAHnHAN
All the Wealth Of the World Would
Not Enable Lower Caste Hindu to
Wed Into His Family or Touch His
Hand-Tyrannical Social Divisions.

Hand-Tyrannical Social Divisions.
Caste distinction in India is n thing
difficult for foreigner to 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 di-
i vided by what is known as caste"
The 2000000O0 Hindus are made up
of diverse racial elements and speak
about nineteen developed languages
and over 100 dialects. They are again
divided into over 5000 castles. most of
them with subcastes. one of these
castles. the Brahnans IS split up into
more than 500 subcastes. of which none
will intermarry and few will eat to-
gether.
The term caste" includes so many
things that 1t Is difficult to define it,
There are however. two properties es
sential to a true caste-first, there Is no
entry except by birth: second. mar
riage outside the caste is absolutely
forbidden. TO preserve the purity and
maintain the exclusiveness of the So
many restrictions on food and many
ceremonial observances are imposed on
the members and enforced 10y penalties
which cannot be evaded. against which
there is no appeal and which in eX-
IRENE cases follow the offender beyond
the grave.
But that Is not all. The relations Of
castles to each other are as much
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 be twice born. The
less honored follow in graduated de-
scent until the untouchable and UNI
speakable are reached at the lowest
depth
1t may he urged that the separation
between the Brahman and. let us say,
the Kurmi market gardener is no wider
than that between the peer of the
United Kingdom and the coal miner
There is this essential difference-that
: it is impossible for an Indian to
\ change his caste. The coal miner may
be elected to parliament. may become
cabinet minister and if he can make
o money enough may marry his son to a
i dukes daughter.
= The Kurmi must remain kurmi.
e All the wealth of Croesus will not en-
q able him tn make an alliance with a
d Brahman family or to touch Brah-
q mans hand The members of "A caste
=, (,
. selves in the sight of other castles by
adopting more elaborate ceremonies
and more scrupulous observances.
A half civilized Gond, for example
may find himself brought into contact
: with Hindus as the plow encroaches
on the forest He tries to raise his 20
sition and add to his self respect by
ID adopting the excfusiveness of his Hin
o, du neighbors. He will even outde
them If he can. and If the Hindu Is
te scrupuous about his food the convert
E, will wash the very wood with which
r. bis dinner Is cooked.
d No endeayors Of this kind. however
e. will avail to lessen by hairs breadth
Of the distance between him and the
OF caste Hindu or even to induce thu
Hindu barber to look upon him as {
- client whose chin he may shave anC
whose toe nails he may pare withou
degradation.
= Another point connected with cast,
which has very practical bearing
10 and must be taken into account is thu
d. power Of coercion which it gives to thu
IN brotherhood. If man is excommuni
h Gated by his caste fellows nobody il
1T the caste will marry him or will &C
n. cept water from his hands or will ca
ne with him.
ne If he Is married his wife will no
~ touch him or speak to him. He Il
:. dead to his family. The priest will no
perform ceremonies for him. The vii
lage barber will not shave him, ant
the washerwoman will not wash hi
of clothes. These are the methods 0
j, bringing pressure on the man. Tn
strictest boycott which lrishmen hav
IS IS invented is mild compared to the fina
lie sentence of a caste punchayat
~, re- A system like this Is stern fac
ms which has to be faced. There is not I
ha police case or civil case or trial a
he the sessions. there is hardly an ap
in pointment to an Office in India O
an whatever degree. in which the matte
he of caste has not to be considered. l
es, forces itself into every assessment o
ho land revenue. into every adjudication
nd of rent. 1t affects the administrator
of justice. the proceedings Of munich
pal and district councils.
The influence and power of tn
y Brahman and the idea that he 1
y above the law and is not to be pun