Blunt, Edward : The caste system of northern India: with special reference to the united provinces of Agra and Oudh (London, 1931)

CAStfi 1N TilE PAST, PRESEnT, AND FUTUrE

cely be used as a criterion now, wlien the idea itself
is fast disappearing; whilst it was never a satisfactory
criterion at any time, for a caste may be regarded as
untouchable by some of the twice born, and not by others;
a caste may be untouchable in one district and not in
the next; and there are untouchable castes with touchable
sections.

Nor is untouchability the lowest possible depth of
degradation. Some untouchable castes—the Kori, the
Bhar, the Pasi, the Dusadh—are none the less served
by Brahmans as their family priests—Brahmans of low
status, no doubt, but still Brahmans. They are obvious-
ly superirr-
however EL

been, on=_r
a certairE_
followin<E
At all t-
to keep =-
but frorrE °

They w<-

Vedas; tE-
out all =-2
texts), a=_

1=^

ceremon = m
position .-
are not E-
attempts=_b
that the -
of beinpE"
the imtu=—
ation is EL

= LQ

1 See (=-
the first ' = rf
castes in —
and (e)—tfc_

= co

= CM

— O

I O


y

no Brahman,
remony; and
2 ‘depressed’
storical facts.

there have
indu society,
low castes,
professions.
endeavoured
indu society,
u ceremonial.
| ss study, the
ey must carry
intras (sacred
any domestic
t is still the
e castes1 who
own by their
m Brahmans,
:ognition, and
society. And
f their clegrad-
gious disabili-

i are 25 castes in
; ons; and all the
ider sub-pars. (a)
|>ple.