Caste in India: The Facts and the System c6.s8.39

c6.s8.39

The same thing happens in the case of castes which have existed for a long time within the Hindu community. An Ahiri clan, contemptuous of its former associates, forms itself into a special caste by introducing a few reforms, such as condemning women to regular seclusion and abolishing second marriages for widows; ¹ the Chamars, who abandon the degrading occupation of leathercraft for weaving, become Julaha Chamars, pending the time when they may be considered Julahas by full right. Some Chuhras who give up the occupation of sweepers are transformed into Murallis. There are innumerable other instances.