ISSUES REGARDING CASTE RESERVATION AND PROBABLE SOLUTIONS

Abstract

The word ‘caste’ is originated from a Spanish and Portuguese word ‘casta’ in the 16th century. But in our country, ‘India,’ we got the word ‘caste’ or ‘varna’ in Rigveda in 1500 BC. In Vedic era, caste of a person had been decided on the basis of his or her occupation. People were divided in Brahmana, Kshattriya, Vaishya, Shudras, and they all had their own duties. One can change their varna by changing his or her occupation. But we get to see in later Vedic period that the occupation - based caste system or varna vyavastha turned into birth-based caste system. In the long run there arises untouchability and many more social problems. People from lower castes had to suffer for centuries over.