The caste system derived from Hinduism which derived from Aryans (people who invaded and brought ideas with them, similar to diffusion.) The ancient Hinduism is quite similar to Hinduism today as it has the overall same belief system. The caste system signifies people's power in society compared to others, with the Brahmins being at the top and the untouchables at the bottom. What makes a Brahman at the top? Well, they are the richest and the ones with the most opportunities, both while they live and afterlife. Within the range of the highest and lowest classes, there are various groups in the middle. The untouchables are people who do work that upperclass people are "too good" to do. They are the ones who get down and dirty to work, and who have only certain jobs offered to them. Untouchables are viewed differently in society, they are seen below everybody else, and they are known to be poorer than anyone else of the casted Hindus. The untouchables worked with things/people such as butchers, water, diseased humans, feces, animals, and human waste. Where did the shift in society come in, furthermore when were people who were considered untouchables then, viewed equally in society? Surprisingly, only about one hundred years ago this changed. I don't feel that garbage men, or doctors, or people who work with animals/meat are viewed differently today. Some form of the caste system still exists today in India, however since India has a population of nearly one billion and citizens have developed and the caste system is illegal, most things are altered. However classes, segregation and competition within communities will always exist because it is nearly impossible for everyone to be equal no matter how hard we try.
Something similar between today and during the time of the caste system is that the higher class had better paying jobs and more organized jobs. Jobs on the street and jobs where your hands were physically dirty were never given to the upper class, and they were treated like royalty just because they have more money. The president would never go from being president to being a garbage-picker-upper on the street. In the case of the caste system, religion was used to assure that those in power stayed in power. Something different between today and the caste system is that religion and power are closely related, but in this system they are much more linked then they are today. Today social order and socioeconomic classes are not particularly determined or viewed with religion. I feel that today not many people use religion to climb their way higher in society. Religion is an important factor in society and people use it to their benefit, but not in terms of power I don't think. The president is not the man with authority because of his religion, whereas in the caste system your power completely depended on your religion. Another element in the caste system that is different today is the fact that if you push the rules or try to argue with the system, you will be completely denied and certainly not bumped up a class. However, today I feel like the people who don't necessarily argue with the rules, but push the buttons a little bit and suggest new things are the ones who are commended. History would never advance or have a fluid motion if everyone obeyed the rules exactly. Life would be boring if people were too afraid to do anything just because of their ranking of power in society, which is something that seems difficult about the caste system. Those who come up with enlightened ideas and protest (intelligently and respectfully) are the ones who create history.
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