This paper will deal with the concept of race as configured by low caste movements in India and social reformers seeking to abolish Untouchability and to improve the status of lower castes by way of opposing Brahmin hegemony. It will be shown that the formulation of a distinct racial identity often goes hand in hand with the rejection of Hinduism, the religion the discriminatory caste system originated from.
Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries there have been many different strategies by means of which the Untouchables have tried to escape their subjugated position within the discriminatory Hindu social order. Along inevitably came the need for the formulation of a separate identity that, obviously, did not emphasise their supposed ritual impurity or their long history of oppression, but rather a prestigious heritage and equality, if not superiority not only in a moral, but cultural and even biological sense. In line with the nationalist movements of the late 19th and early 20th centuries that drew much of their inspiration from Orientalist knowledge and colonial ethnographic theories regarding the racial origins of Indian society, another factor may have contributed to the Untouchables‘ rejection of Hindu orthodoxy: That of a racialised thinking and pronounced, separate ethnic identity. Thus, in what ways is the Untouchables‘ rejection of Hinduism related to racial ideologies?
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Caste and Race: An Introductory Overview
- The Aryan Invasion Theory and its Impact on Racial Ideologies
- Mahatma Jotirao Phule and the Satyashodak Samaj
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper examines the relationship between the Untouchables' rejection of Hinduism and the development of racial ideologies within low-caste movements in India during the 19th and 20th centuries. It analyzes how the construction of distinct racial identities by social reformers contributed to the challenge of Brahmin hegemony and the pursuit of social justice for lower castes.
- The intertwining of caste and race in the Indian context.
- The role of the Aryan Invasion Theory in shaping racial ideologies.
- The strategies employed by Untouchables to escape subjugation within the Hindu social order.
- The impact of Orientalist scholarship on the formation of racial identities.
- The socio-political and religious dimensions of low-caste movements.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introductory section sets the stage for the paper by highlighting the historical context of Untouchability and its connection to racial ideologies. It introduces Periyar E. V. Ramaswami's critique of Hinduism and its role in perpetuating social inequality. The section lays out the central question of how the Untouchables' rejection of Hinduism is linked to the development of racialized thinking and the formation of a separate ethnic identity.
Caste and Race: An Introductory Overview: This chapter explores the complex relationship between caste and race in India. It emphasizes that while caste is not synonymous with race, the two concepts became intertwined, particularly due to the influence of Orientalist scholarship. The chapter discusses the difficulty of distinguishing between race and ethnicity in the historical context, acknowledging the synonymous use of these terms in some sources. It prepares the groundwork for understanding how the idea of race was constructed and utilized within low-caste movements.
The Aryan Invasion Theory and its Impact on Racial Ideologies: This chapter delves into the Aryan Invasion Theory (AIT) and its impact on the formation of racial ideologies in India. It examines how the AIT, developed by Orientalist scholars, was adopted and adapted by both Hindu nationalists and low-caste movements. The chapter explores the implications of the Aryan-Dravidian dichotomy, which was used to categorize Indian society along racial lines, with implications for social stratification and political identity.
Mahatma Jotirao Phule and the Satyashodak Samaj: This chapter focuses on the work of Mahatma Jotirao Phule and his Satyashodak Samaj. It analyzes Phule's critique of Brahminical Hinduism and his advocacy for the rights of Shudras and Untouchables. The chapter highlights Phule's parallel between the oppression of lower castes in India and that of African Americans in the USA. It details his argument regarding the indigenous origins of Shudras and Untouchables, emphasizing the role of ethnic identity in his rejection of Brahminical ideology.
Keywords
Untouchables, Hinduism, racial ideologies, caste, race, ethnicity, Aryan Invasion Theory, Orientalism, low-caste movements, social reform, Mahatma Jotirao Phule, Satyashodak Samaj, Brahmin hegemony, Dravidian, bahujan.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview
What is the main topic of this paper?
This paper examines the complex relationship between caste and race in India, particularly focusing on how the rejection of Hinduism by Untouchables contributed to the development of racial ideologies within low-caste movements during the 19th and 20th centuries. It analyzes how the construction of distinct racial identities by social reformers challenged Brahmin hegemony and the pursuit of social justice for lower castes.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
Key themes include the intertwining of caste and race in India; the role of the Aryan Invasion Theory in shaping racial ideologies; strategies employed by Untouchables to escape subjugation; the impact of Orientalist scholarship; and the socio-political and religious dimensions of low-caste movements.
What is the significance of the Aryan Invasion Theory in this context?
The paper explores how the Aryan Invasion Theory, developed by Orientalist scholars, was adopted and adapted by both Hindu nationalists and low-caste movements. It examines the implications of the Aryan-Dravidian dichotomy in shaping racial categorizations and impacting social stratification and political identity.
How does the paper address the relationship between caste and race?
The paper acknowledges the complexity of defining and differentiating caste and race in the Indian context. While emphasizing that caste is not synonymous with race, it highlights how the two concepts became intertwined, especially due to Orientalist scholarship. The paper examines how the idea of race was constructed and utilized within low-caste movements.
What is the role of Mahatma Jotirao Phule and the Satyashodak Samaj?
The paper focuses on Mahatma Jotirao Phule's critique of Brahminical Hinduism and his advocacy for Shudras and Untouchables. It highlights his parallel between the oppression of lower castes in India and African Americans in the USA, and his emphasis on the indigenous origins of Shudras and Untouchables as a basis for rejecting Brahminical ideology.
What are the chapter summaries provided in the preview?
The preview includes summaries of an introduction establishing the historical context and central research question; a chapter on the complex caste-race relationship in India; a chapter on the Aryan Invasion Theory and its influence on racial ideologies; and a chapter focusing on Mahatma Jotirao Phule and the Satyashodak Samaj.
What are the key words associated with this paper?
Key words include Untouchables, Hinduism, racial ideologies, caste, race, ethnicity, Aryan Invasion Theory, Orientalism, low-caste movements, social reform, Mahatma Jotirao Phule, Satyashodak Samaj, Brahmin hegemony, Dravidian, and bahujan.
What is the overall objective of this paper?
The paper aims to analyze how the Untouchables' rejection of Hinduism is linked to the development of racialized thinking and the formation of a separate ethnic identity within low-caste movements in India.
- Citar trabajo
- Nejla Demirkaya (Autor), 2013, The Untouchables’ Rejection of Hinduism and its Relation to Racial Ideologies, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/307612
