Caste System And Racism

Because the caste system was largely based on skin color, racism was and continues to be an extremely prevalent problem in India. When the Aryans, a light-skinned people, developed the caste system, they made sure to rank the dark-skinned natives below them to establish a sense of superiority over the natives. At the top of the caste system were the Brahmans, who were the Aryan priest. Because religion was such an important part of Indian culture, the Brahmans occupied an extremely high and important place in Indian society. Below the Brahmans were the Kshatriyas, or Aryan warriors. The Vaisyas were ranked third in the caste system and were composed largely of merchants and farmers. This was seen as the commoner class. The fourth caste was occupied by the peasant class, called the Sudras. The Sudras were all non-Aryan and were dark-skinned. Their low ranking in the caste system showed what little respect the Aryans held for the natives. Below the Sudras were the lowest-ranking in the caste: the Untouchables. The extreme emphasis placed on skin color and class during this time led to many modern day internal and external issues concerning racial and social inequality. The dark-skinned people of India are still frequently looked down upon, a lasting and damaging result of tje caste system. The caste system prevented the success and development of the native people, a fact that is evident today in India's economy and