Life and Conditions of the People of Hindustan (1200–1550 A.D.) c5.s1.33

c5.s1.33

The second factor is the caste system with its necessary corollary, the theory of *Dharma*. It has been rightly held that caste and the Hindu theory of *Dharma* encourage a feeling of charity and consideration towards both men and animals and lead to a general contentment among the people.³ It may be further conceded that the institution of caste has greatly contributed towards the preservation of Hindu society. All these considerations, though very strong, are hardly sufficient to justify the system. Politically, it means the permanent domination of the higher classes over the lower, which results in the decay of both. Among the main features of the caste system : it leads to the creation of a leisured class composed of the learned and the strong, with supposed inborn attributes and inherited privileges, and another class composed of labourers to whom it assigns a degraded social status ; finally, it gives to these ingenious arrangements the most sacred and positive sanctions. The spiritual basis for this doctrine was supplied by the doctrine of *Karma* or the Law of the Deed. So that the argument is purely scriptural and places the inequalities of the caste system on a moral order of which God's will is the guardian and embodiment, and the created beings have only to thank themselves for their ill plight.¹ From these follows the theory of *Dharma* or the respective duties of various castes, though the term is difficult to render in a foreign language.