CASTE

A Caste is a social group in humans.

In social insects, caste is a group of individuals, belonging to a particular species or subspecies, differing in form from other groups of individuals within the same species or subspecies (e.g. in bees — workers, drones, queens).

Various castes have traditionally been given rank in society of an exclusive nature due to birth or origin, such as prevails among the Hindus especially. Among them there are originally two great classes, the twice-born and the once-born, i.e. those who have passed through a second birth, and those who have not. Of the former there are three grades, Brahmans, or the priestly caste, who are said to have come from the mouth of Brahma; Kshatriyas, or the soldier caste, from the hands of Brahma; and Vaisyas, or the agricultural caste, from the feet of Brahma. The once-born castes are called Sudras, earth-born or from the leg of Brahma, the creator god of the Universe. Notwithstanding which distinction often members of certain castes are given, it is found that even the highest class sink socially to the lowest level, and members of the lowest rise socially to the highest. That is why the caste system in India now treated as bane for the society. Many believe that the caste system should go, and there should be a better system based on equality of individuals and groups free from all biases.