Caste System in India

In this episode, we explore the caste system in India, tracing its evolution from the ancient four-part varna framework to the thousands of birth-based jati communities that shaped social identity and hierarchy. The discussion examines how British colonial rule standardized and hardened caste categories through administrative and census practices, while modern India has sought to address caste discrimination through legal bans and affirmative action for marginalized groups such as Dalits and Adivasis. We also look at how caste continues to influence marriage, politics, religion, and economic opportunity, alongside the long history of reform movements and ongoing struggles against caste-based violence and inequality.