CASTES IN INDIA

Hokitika Guardian, 13 May 1933, Page 6

CASTES IN INDIA

SYSTEM QVE> 4000 YEARS OLD

LITTLE -HOPE FOR CHANGE

For 4000 years the caste system has existed in India, and not without the passage of centuries is it likely to be changed greatly or wiped out, according to the impressions of Major G- W. 'Will, of the Royal Army Medical Corps in India. Major Will is a New Zealander, and lie is at present on furlough. As a government servant he is not permitted to speak about Indian politics, but he exp.ained yesterday the indicate system of society i u which Indians live.

Of the Hindus there are four c as te’. First, the Brahmins or piie-sts ; second, the warriors ; tlrrd, the cultivators; and fourth, the menials or artisans. The ancestors- °f °U these castes of Hindus were yams. Outiside of the pale, altogether are the untouchables, who were oiiginaily the aboriginal inhabitants. Any of the four castes will make the untouchab’es stat'd aside or submit to their will, and the Brahmins have many privileges that others have not. Then there are the Mohammedans, who do pot believe i. n a caste system, the,-Sikhs w bo are an offshot of the Hindus, and the Jainis, will not kill any living thing, and will even brush their -seats bei’>.e they sit down in an open place lo make- sure that they are not about to squash an ant, or perhaps two or three ants. ' ' '

“This social system- has existed ,-in : India for centuries, and jt is not• likely* that ’ any dramatic appeal to the- .In*ffVms themselves will help to- end it. n ; d Mb in i' Will, “for they have fitted their lives to" that scheme of things and seem prepared to go ahead and continue to live under their system.” India was a prosperous country, he ■said, for it had a great natural wealth :-md a ; hard-working peasant, population. As the finance minister, had slid, India had hardly felt the depression.