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THE CASTE SYSTEM 
In India we come across a special type of social stratification in the form of castes. The caste system finds its origin in the Spanish word “CASTA” mean people belonging to the same breed. A caste may be defined as a collection of families, bearing a common name, which usually devotes or is associated with specific occupation claiming common descent from a mythical ancestor- human or divine, professing to follow the same professional calling and are regarded by those who are competent to give an opinion as forming single and homogeneous community. 

The caste system in India draws its origin from Rig Vedic period, when the division of society into the four classes the priest(BRAHAMANA), warrior ( KSHATRIYA), peasant ( VAISHYA) and serf (SHUDRA) – -   was regarded as fundamental and divinely ordained. In the caste system, also known as early VARNA VYAVASHTHA, four VARNAS of India developed out of very early Aryan class divisions. The underlying principle of caste stressed the alignment of man with the entity of his group life. In the beginning, the social divisions in India were not hereditary and were only functional divisions. The phrase VARNASHRAMA DHARMA means that Dharma is not same for different groups. But slowly Indian caste system underwent by endogamous unity, with a hierarchical gradation of society, BRAHMANS at the apex, followed by KSHATRIYA and VAISHYA and SHUDRA at the base.  The BRAHMINS dominated the social life as well as retained exclusive rights over the ritual performances. The task of KSHATRIYA  was to protect people, VAISHYA was to breed cattle, till the earth, pursue trade and lend money and SHUDRA was to serve the other three classes. 

The PURUSHASUKTA mentions four classes emerging from the different parts of the body of the primeval man – - the BRAHAMANA from the mouth, the KSHATRIYA from shoulders,  the VAISHYA from thighs and the SHUDRA from the feet. The principle of inequality is the fundamental principal of the caste system.  

TRANSFROMATION OF VARNA SYSTEM INTO CASTE SYSTEM:

Caste means Jati. It is connected with the Varna system but the two are different. Varna ashrama was a well – conceived social structure and was not of divine   origin. It ws not  on, hereditary and represented only functional division. Later on , these divisions became more rigid and led to the emergence of caste system. The probable  factors which may have contributed to the emergence and development of caste system are – -  racial purity, ideas of purity and pollution, belief in reincarnation and the doctrine of karma, hereditary  occupations, racial prejudices, clash of cultures etc.

The outstanding features of caste system are as follows:

1. Segment Division of Society:  Indian society is divided into different segments, the membership of which is determined by birth, not by wealth or position. Caste decides about the code of conduct and behaviour of each caste and also decides about taboos. 
2. Group Hierarchy:  in a caste system, there is a hierarchy of groups which is on the basis of rituals, status, purity and impurity. It believes that certain castes are pure than others and each individual is required to act within standard fixed norms.
3. Endogamy: a person born in a caste remains in it for life and dies in it. Every caste is subdivided in sub castes, every one of which forbids its members to marry outside it.  Marriage outside one’s own caste is forbidden.
4. Restrictions on Feeding and Social Intercourse: in the caste system, there are restrictions on feeding and social intercourse and minute rules are laid down with regard to the kind of food that can be accepted by a person and from what caste. Food cooked and served by members belonging to a   lower caste is generally not taken by higher castes.  The theory of pollution being communicated by some castes to higher castes place severe restrictions with regard to distances.
5. Idea of Purity: one of the axial features of the caste system is the maintenance of purity in daily living.  Different sets of principles are set for assessment of purity.  Thus, among some groups particular occupations are considered to be impure and hence unbecoming of high castes to follow. Besides occupation, the idea of purity affects food, interaction rituals etc.
6. Restrictions on Occupation: in caste system,   each caste wants to have monopoly and purity of occupations and is not required to change the occupation. Usually it is expected that a person belonging to a particular caste will follow his caste occupation only.

Beyond the above discussed four classes comes the “untouchables”, “outcastes” or what later came to be known as “depressed classes” and “schedules castes”. Like caste, it is also very difficult to define untouchability. It started with the coming of the Aryans who were very advanced and civilized people.  

Special efforts were made during the post independence era to end untouchability. So far as constitutional provisions are concerned Article 17 of the constitution says that the practice of untouchability in every form is prohibited. But one cannot say about its original abolition.