The Caste System in India - History and Modern Perspectives

India's Population

• Today, India has a population of over 1.1 billion people
• About 80% of Indians are Hindus
• About 13% of Indians are Muslims
• There are more native English speakers in India than in the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand combined
• It is the second most populous country in the world today
• It houses about 16% of the world's population - on 2% of the world's landmass
• Approximately 70% of people live in villages
• The other 30% people live in 200 cities across the country

India's Languages

• India is a land of many languages - 16 official ones, including English
• In the north, Indo-European languages are spoken: Hindu, Guajarati, Bengali, Punjabi
• These languages are distantly related to English
• In the south, Dravidian languages are spoken: Tamil, Malayam, Telegu
• These languages have little in common with the languages of the north

Indian History

• The British ruled India from 1858-1947
• The kings and queens of England were also Emperors and Empresses of India from 1876-1947
• In 1947, India gained independence from Britian, thanks in part to Gandhi
• The country was divided (partitioned) into Pakistan (Muslim majority) and India (Hindu majority)
• Partition was a very bloody time; Muslims and Hindus fought many battles
• The area of Punjab is still claimed by both Pakistan and India
• The 1950s and 1960s were a time of economic development for India
• Modernization came to India, but at a human price

The Caste System

• The Hindu population is divided into four (4) official castes: Brahmin (priests and scholars), Kshatria (rulers and aristocrats), Vaisia (businessmen and landlords), Sudra (peasants and workers)
• The higher the caste, generally the richer the members of the caste
• The Sudra have few economic and social rights
• A fifth caste is a "non-caste", known by several different names: the Untouchables (higher castes were not supposed to touch them), Dalits ("the oppressed" - the politically correct term today), Scheduled castes (because they are "scheduled" by the government to receive fairer treatment).

The Fifth Caste

• The Untouchables did the work that the other casts considered unclean: butchers, latrine cleaners, tannery workers
• The Untouchables had almost no rights
• They were often considered as a "pollution" and had to live away from the others
• Discrimination against the lower castes was outlawed in 1947
• In reality, discrimination is still common, especially in traditional rural areas
• Many Dalits have gone into the public service and work for the government

Grammar Usage - Day 1

a, an A is used before words beginning with a consonant or "yew" sound.
An is used before words beginning with a vowel sound.

a computer a unicorn an apple an otter an honor


a lot A lot, meaning "a large amount," should NEVER be used as one word.

There's a lot of ice.


a while, awhile A while is part of a prepositional phrase and is usually preceded by in or for.
Awhile is a single word used as an adverb.

Take a break for a while. The dog barked awhile.


accept, except Accept is a verb that means "to receive" or "to agree to."
Except is a preposition meaning "but" or a verb meaning "leave out."


adapt, adopt Adapt means "to adjust."
Adopt means "to take something for one's own."


advice, advise Advice is a noun that means "recommendation."
Advise is a verb that means "to give advice or counsel."

Introduction Attention Getters

• Relate a dramatic anecdote
• Begin with a funny story to set a humorous tone
• Begin with an anecdote that reveals some key trait of your character
• Expose a commonly held belief
• Present surprising facts an statistics
• Start with a simple fact that will be important later
• Use a fitting quotation
• Ask a provocative question or two L
• Tell a vivid personal story
• Define a key term
• Set the mood with vivid, specific details; in other words, ass a snapshot
• Present an interesting observation
• Create a unique scenario
• Start with a hint
• Start with a confession
• Start out with dialogue
• Relate your topic to recent news
• Turn About: Start with the opposite idea and then move to your focus
• Funnel: Reveal background info leading to a focused these statement
• Dramatic: Inroll as an “eye-witness account” (present of past tense)