Meaning of the word CASTE

 

WHAT DOES THE WORD 'CASTE' MEAN?

The word caste is an English word and a HYPERNYM, derived from the Spanish/Portugese word, 'CASTA'. 

It makes it easier to understand what the word 'Caste' actually means, if you understand the two words, HYPERNYM and HYPONYM.

HYPERNYM (Dictionary meaning) is a word with a broad meaning constituting a category into which words with more specific meanings fall; a superordinate. For example, colour is a hypernym of red.

A hypernym is a word with a general meaning that has basically the same meaning of a more specific word.

For example, dog is a hypernym, while collie and chihuahua are more specific subordinate terms called HYPONYMS.

HYPONYM is a word whose meaning is included in the meaning of another word:

"Horse" is a hyponym of "animal" and "Animal" is a Hypernym of "Horse".

BUT

 'Animal' is a Hyponym of the Hypernym "living things". Similarly the word "Plant" is also a hyponym of the same hypernym, 'Living Things'. 

Similarly, the words Race, Clan, Tribe, Varna, Jati and Occupation, all having SPECIFIC meanings and so are hyponyms of the hypernym, "CASTE", a word with a more GENERAL meaning.

Casta/Caste doesn't mean Jati but jati falls in the broader category of Casta/Caste.

Caste is not Jati but Jati is a sub-category of caste.

Nor does Casta/Caste mean Varna but Varna too fall under the category casta/caste.

Caste is not Varna but Varna is a subcategory of Caste.

The words Varna and/or Jati and/or Occupation and/or Tribe/Race; ALL FALL UNDER THE GENERAL TERM CASTA/CASTE.

Casta/Caste (in the Indian sense) = Varna and/or Jati and/or Occupation (explanation below).

So, when the Varna and/or Jati apologists say caste is a European construct, it's wise to say to them, "You ARE right. Caste IS a European word and they DO have a dictionary meaning of caste/casta but Varna and Jati are NOT European words. Therefore, it's not their job to define these terms as they did not create them. So let's specifically talk only about the hyponyms (of caste), Jati/Varna and occupations and NOT about the general term, caste."

When the British used the word "caste" as an admin/legal term to give an identity to the formerly identityless (religionless, Varnaless and Jatiless) untouchables, they  did not and were NOT trying to give them a Jati, Varna or any religion. The Avarna (Varnaless) Untouchables had their own beliefs and customs but they could not be identified with, and so classify them as, any legally known /mainstream religion, varna or jati. The only way to identify these identityless untouchables was by the work they engaged in. So their 'occupation' (Hyponym of the word caste), had to be listed in a specially made schedule for the purposes of giving them an identity allowing them some sort of representation. That's why they are called the 'Scheduled Castes' (SC), not because they had a jati or varna. Today, what really were occupations of the identity-less untouchables are wrongly seen and propagated as jatis. No, their specific occupation (eg manual scavenging or leather-worker)) is not a casta/caste either but the hyponym category, 'OCCUPATION', is a casta/caste.

That is why for most SCs in rural areas, their occupation is almost always same as their 'legal caste (not "legal" jati)'. A Dhobi/Chamar/Bhangi etc by occupation is almost always a Dhobi/Chamar/Bhangi by their "constitutional caste" too BUT in Varnadharmis (people believing in and belonging to a varna, all of whom have jatis), it is often the other way round; i.e. their occupation is supposed to be based on their jati (not any other hyponym of caste). That is to say, unlike the SCs, their jati (also a hyponym of caste) is not based on their occupation. However, Varndharmis often break their jati/Varna rules without dire consequences (except when breaking marriage laws) and follow a trade that is most convenient/suitable/lucrative to them. So, in  many cases their trade does not match their jati or Varna duties. 

Learning about the so-called "Hindu" faith is incomplete without learning about Varna and Jati but mentioning of the foreign word 'caste' is not recommended, nor required, when learning about what is commonly called the "Hindu religion".

However, a great percentage of people wrongly, albeit unknowingly, translate the word 'Jati' as 'caste'. This is a BIG big mistake as there is no equivalent word for Jati in any foreign language. Even more confusion is caused when the word 'Varna' is translated as caste by another group of people. For Varna too, there is no equivalent word in any other language. So it's best to use the original words. When you mean 'varna', use the word varna, not caste. When you mean jati, use the word jati,  not caste. When you mean both 'Varna and Jati', it's ok to use 'caste' but it's still better not to, to avoid unnecessary confusion. With this understanding, what does 'annihilation of castes' and 'anti-caste discrimination' mean to you now?

The Jati and Varna system is unique to those whose roots are from the Indian subcontinent.

Whenever Varnadharmis (Varnaists) or Jatists say "Caste is a colonial construct" and shift blame on the British for using "divide and rule" policy, they simply cause diversion away from discussing Varna and Jati. In that case, it's best to simply say something like,  "Ok, let's not use that foreign word 'caste' in our discussion then. Let's just talk about Varna and/or Jati."

That stops them right in their tracks, preventing diversion because we all know that Varna and Jatis were not created by the British.

(AUTHOR: Shekhar Bodhakar)

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ALSO READ:

1. What is the Indian caste system and how does it work? 

2. What is the exact meaning of hindi word, "Dalit"?

3. WHY did Dr. Ambedkar say, "Gandhi is the greatest enemy of the untouchables"?

4. Why the scheduled castes and tribes are not Hindu?

5. Can the caste system be eradicated from India? If so, how?

6. What are scheduled castes?