Caste in India: The Facts and the System c7.s2.13

c7.s2.13

The four castes might at least appear to be isolated by their special functions, but reservations at once begin to pour in. Each of the higher castes is first of all authorized to embrace the mode of life peculiar to the caste which follows it in order of gradation. This declension is limited to cases where it is imposed by lack of means. But make no mistake : we are dealing not with an exceptional case of necessity but with perfectly ordinary facts thinly disguised, simply for the sake of the principle, by a decent pretext, by a reservation which it is hoped may survive the shipwreck of the theory. Let us run through the list of Brahmans who in theory are regarded as unworthy to be invited to funeral feasts : robbers, butchers, hirelings, actors, singers, keepers of low gaming-houses, along with other more harmless professions, figure in the list as very common species. It is evident, therefore, that at that time the ways of gaining a livelihood were as varied among the Brahmans as they are to-day.¹ Manu acted prudently in declaring that a Brahman must always be regarded as a high divinity ‘ whatever trade he may follow ’.²