India's society + religion in 1914 Flashcards
How many Hindus were in India?
70%
In 1914, what was the population of India?
300M
What was the caste system about?
Purity and pollution
What kind of substances were pollutants?
Human and animal waste, dead bodies
The closer Hindus came to pollutants in their work…
The lower in the caste system came that occupation
What is an example of someone that could be purified?
A woman after child birth that became temporarily polluted
What is an example of someone that could never be purified?
Their occupation, those with the lowest jobs
What was the purpose of the caste system?
As to not be polluted, the castes had to be kept separate to keep their purity.
What caste was at the bottom of the hierarchy?
The Untouchables
Why was the Caste system interdepend able?
Everyone needed the support of the caste below, and above them
What was the effect of the caste system on Hindus?
Born into the caste and lived their life out within it
- Social relations pre-determined by caste
- Leaving meant becoming an outcast
In 1914, what was the population of Muslims?
20%
Largest minority religion
Where were Muslims the majority in?
Northeast and Northwest
What were Muslims like in the North East?
In Bengal, they were the peasant class
What were Muslims like in the North West?
They held influential positions
