Question

Choose the correct statement(s) regarding the ancient Caste System prevalent in India.

• A. Traditionally, a person's caste was determined at birth and often resulted in fixed social hierarchies.
• B. The Kshatriyas occupied the top position in the social hierarchy followed by the Brahmins, Vaishyas and Shudras.
• C. Harijans were forced to perform jobs that were considered unclean and menial, and for very little pay.
• D. The caste system remained unchanged and considered everyone equal and helped everyone live a dignified life.

Answer 1

Answer: (A), (C)

Harijans were forced to perform jobs that were considered unclean and menial, and for very little pay.

Traditionally, a person's caste was determined at birth and often resulted in restricted social mobility and fixed social hierarchies.
At the top were the Brahmins who were the priests and scholarly class of the society. At the bottom were the scheduled castes and tribes commonly known as ‘Dalits’ or ‘Harijans’. They worked as manual scavengers, cleaned latrines and sewers by hand, and took care of disposing of dead animals.

The system remained virtually unchanged for centuries, and kept on trapping more and more people into this vicious social order which was impossible to escape.