Hinglish

The Varṇa–Jāti System

Class 7 Social Science · Chapter 4: New Beginnings: Cities and States · NCERT Exploring Society: India and Beyond section 4.4

Learn

As societies grow complex, people take up specialised roles: governing, teaching, trading, farming, building, crafts and arts. Ideally these groups support each other, but such divisions often bring inequality, as some gain more wealth or power. Equality has been a goal of many societies, but very few, if any, have fully achieved it.

Indian society was organised in a two-fold system. A jāti was a community tied to an occupation, like farming, metalwork, trade or a craft, whose skills passed from generation to generation, often with its own customs. Varṇa, an idea from Vedic texts, had four categories: Brahmins (knowledge and rituals), Kshatriyas (defence), Vaishyas (trade, business, agriculture) and Shudras (artisans, craftspeople, workers). The English word "caste" comes from the Portuguese word casta.

Texts and inscriptions show that in early times people sometimes changed occupations: a drought might push farmers into city work, or some Brahmins took up trade or soldiering. The system gave society structure and some stability, but over time it became rigid, leading to inequality and discrimination against lower jātis and communities left outside it, especially hardening during British rule. It was one important mechanism in Indian society, though not the only one.

Explore: the four varṇas.

  1. Sort each role as described in the texts.

Remember

  • Jātis were occupational communities; varṇa had four categories from Vedic texts.
  • The system was flexible early on but became rigid, causing inequality and discrimination.

Quick check

How did the varṇa–jāti system change over time?

  1. it became more rigid, leading to inequality and discrimination
  2. it became more flexible every century
  3. it disappeared in 300 BCE
  4. it never changed
Answer

it became more rigid, leading to inequality and discrimination. Early on, people sometimes changed occupations.

Think about it

Why is equality worth working for in a society?

One answer

When everyone has equal dignity and chances, people can use their talents fully, there is less conflict, and the whole society grows stronger and fairer.

Practice

Practise with fresh questions at three levels (easy, medium, hard), some answered hands-on, with hints and worked answers. Get 4 of your last 5 right to finish the topic.