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India Today
11-06-2025
- General
- India Today
How Caste, a word of Spanish origin, redefined Indian social order during British rule
One word that still thrives in India and continues to challenge society is caste. The word originated in Spain and was later used by Portuguese, and it was the British who institutionalised it within the Indian derived from casta, is now deeply linked with India's ancient social structure, the varna system, in which esoteric individuals based on the work performed and, by extension, their place in per the Rig Veda, the varna system divided society into four main groups: Brahmins, the learned class; Kshatriyas, the rulers and warriors; Vaishyas, the merchants and landowners; and Shudras, those who did manual labour. Outside this structure were those considered 'untouchables.' The first official Indian census was conducted in 1871, well before independence. It recorded over 2,500 castes. These caste listings included all professions -- for example, Sonar, a term for goldsmiths, was listed as a backward the 1931 census, the number of recorded castes had risen to over 3,000. This was the last time a caste-based census was held -- pre- or though caste -- a word not native to Indian soil -- became the most defining social construct of the land, shaping society for over two centuries, how did this happen? What changed and divided Indian society so deeply that it is now difficult to separate from it?advertisementWas Indian society fragile from the beginning, or did it evolve over time, with the differentiation of work and social categories outlined in the varna system becoming more rigid? These are the questions scholars and academics have long sought to answer. Specimen of various described castes(Image: Wikimedia Commons) VARNA, JATI, AND CASTEThe varna system, as mentioned in the Rig Veda, is thousands of years old and outlines how society and work were structured. Though there were four main varnas, epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana offer examples of how these identities could born a Kshatriya, was later revered as a Rishi due to his conduct. The story of Eklavya is often cited -- denied training by Dronacharya due to his varna, Eklavya's father, Hiranyadhanu, nonetheless served in King Jarasandha's army, showing that lower-caste individuals were not excluded from warfare or Indian texts, jati -- meaning birth -- is often mentioned less often than varna, but the concept is more complex. While varna divided society into four broad categories, jatis represented thousands of lineage- or occupation-based groups, though endogamous (a practice of marrying or mating within a specific group, such as a caste, ethnic group, religious group), varied across Dumont, a French anthropologist, linked jatis to religious purity and pollution, but others argue their origins are more secular, rooted in economics, politics, and jatis are often associated with jobs, they have not strictly limited occupational roles. Genetic studies suggest jatis practiced endogamy since the Gupta period, possibly are not exclusive to Hindus -- they are found among Muslims, Christians, and tribal populations, without one single hierarchical English word caste, now so commonly used in the Indian context, did not originate here. It came by way of Portugal. When the Portuguese first made landfall in India in the year 1498, they applied word 'casta' -- a term used for lineage or stock -- to describe the many birth-bound communities they English language took this word in by 1613, and it Sumit Guha, in his account Beyond Caste, writes of how Portuguese became a seafaring tongue, spoken in distant corners of Asia. Through this language, the West began to make sense of Indian life or tried time, the British would carry out that task further. Guha notes that 'casta' spoke first of blood -- of purity in animals, then people which derived from the concept of purity of blood, limpieza de imagined that a community's worth could be preserved by guarding the bloodline, especially through the modesty of its women. Dr Ambedkar with the leaders of 'Scheduled Caste Federation'. Scheduled Caste Federation Conference, Nagpur (Image: Wikimedia Commons) Anthropologist Morton Klass reminds us that there is no true match for the word caste in any Indian tongue. The Iberians, shaped by their own worldviews and prejudices, used casta to rank peoples they met -- first in Asia, then in the the Brisitsh engaged more with Indian society, they began to see it through their own them, India's jatis seemed like ordered groups, made to preserve ancestry. This view suited the world they came from -- a world where bloodlines and hierarchies mattered Portugal and Spain were deep in the trade of enslaved people only made such ideas more historian Charles Boxer once observed that the beliefs the Iberians carried -- whether by sea, cross, or sword -- did not fade quickly. For many years, race and rank walked hand in hand. The echoes, perhaps, still CASTE CENSUS AND ORIGIN OF NEW JATISWhen the British arrived in India, they stepped into a land full of rich traditions, local customs, and complex social networks. After centuries of invasions and changes in power, Indian society had become layered and diverse -- very different from what the ancient texts once community had its own way of life, and it was unlike anything the British had dealt with make sense of this diversity and to rule more efficiently, the British started recording details about the people. This led to the first complete census of India in 1871. It wasn't just about counting people -- it was about sorting them into groups based on caste, religion, occupation, and other like Sumit Guha believe that this was the first major step in giving caste a rigid and official place in Indian census didn't just reflect what society looked like; it shaped how people came to see themselves and each also recorded each individual's caste, religion, occupation, and age. These accounts went on until 1941 and had one major impact -- Britishers began defining how people came to be viewed in was fluid and dynamic began to become fixed on paper. Specimen of caste in India (Image: Wikimedia Commons) One sociologist, Michael Mann, has stated that these censuses were more of what the British required to govern rather than what the Indians British rarely knew how things actually operated here, so they relied on older religious writings and counsel from higher-caste leaders -- particularly Brahmins -- to determine how to document Indian British realised that if everyone could be put into tidy compartments, it would be possible to manage such a large nation. But not always.A Brahmin in Bengal, for instance, was more like other Bengal castes than like Brahmins elsewhere -- so the concept of one definite 'Brahmin' identity didn't quite Brahmin identity was there before the British, but it wasn't always rigid or were allowed to shift between roles, and there was openness for change. But once the British began inserting caste into official documents, it started to become more fixed and less accessible to why some authors think that the British didn't only document caste -- they assisted in forming what it was. Others think caste existed naturally but concur that the British made it more rigid in human let's pose the big question: did the British have a hand in establishing India's caste system, or did they reformulate it to suit their means of domination? That's something historians still debate Watch
The Hindu
19-05-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Khelo India Youth Games 2025: Maharashtra bags hat-trick of titles; Bihar impresses on home turf
Maharashtra has, time and again, managed to convince that its on-field prowess isn't a sporting fluke. The seventh edition of the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) in Bihar was no different, as Maharashtra's Under-18 athletes completed a hat-trick of team championships in the multi-discipline event. The state not only accounted for close to 17 per cent of the medals on offer, but also ensured there was daylight on the tally between itself and second-placed Haryana. Maharashtra's players won 158 medals (58 gold, 47 silver, and 53 bronze), while the runner-up bagged 117 (39 gold, 27 silver, and 51 bronze). Rajasthan finished third with 60 medals (24 gold, 12 silver, and 24 bronze). Maharashtra's gold medals were won across 14 sports, with an overwhelming majority coming from athletics (10), swimming (seven), gymnastics (seven), archery (six), and weightlifting (five). According to a statement from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, most of Maharashtra's standout performers — especially the archers and weightlifters — already train at Khelo India centres or the National Centres of Excellence (NCoEs) of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) in Aurangabad, Patiala, and Sonepat. SAI's talent development team also deserves a hat tip for identifying and nurturing 186 of the 5,071 athletes — 50 per cent of them girls — who participated in these Games. Meanwhile, Bihar, enjoying the privilege of competing in its own backyard, sprang the biggest surprise, significantly improving its rank to 15th after finishing 21st in the previous KIYG in Tamil Nadu. It registered seven gold, 11 silver, and 18 bronze medals. The host recorded a growth of 620 per cent over its showing in 2023, where it won five medals, including two gold, two silver, and one bronze. RELATED | Sports Minister announces multiple Games under Khelo India scheme Raveendran Sankaran, Director General and CEO of the Bihar State Sports Authority, attributes the roaring success to multiple factors. 'It didn't happen overnight. It took us four years. We initially concentrated on talent scouting. We empanelled the right persons for the right games; Dronacharya and Arjuna awardees from across the country helped us identify talent. For coaching too, we had national and international awardees and Olympians mentoring our kids,' he tells Sportstar. A lot of wrestling's history can be traced back to the akhadas of Haryana. Therefore, it came as no surprise when the state claimed eight of its gold medals in the sport. What's worth further praise is that Haryana's boxers also bagged eight, while its fencers won seven gold medals, indicating the state's foray into non-conventional sporting ecosystems. Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary (centre), Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse (right) and Director General and CEO of the Bihar State Sports Authority, Raveendran Sankaran (centre left), during the closing ceremony of the 'Khelo India Youth Games 2025'. | Photo Credit: PTI Bihar tried something similar. It won both the gold medals on offer in Rugby 7s, a sport in which they have been improving by leaps and bounds for a while now. In fact, less than a month ago, the senior women's team from the state had lifted the trophy at the Nationals. 'I can't compete with Haryana in wrestling in the next 10 or maybe even 20 years. The same is true of Kerala and Tamil Nadu in basketball and volleyball. They are far ahead of us. So, we selected such sports where not only is the potential there in our athletes, but also where the competition is thin. But at the same time, those sports had to be part of the Olympics or Asian Games programme. Like Rugby 7s is part of the Olympics, and we won both titles. We chose games where our medal probability would be higher,' explains Raveendran. India's 🇮🇳 youth didn't just show up—they stole the show at the 7th #KheloIndiaYouthGames in Bihar, smashing numerous youth national and meet records. Congratulations to every athlete and their support staff. #KhelKeRangBiharKeSang@mansukhmandviya@khadseraksha@BSSABihar… — Khelo India (@kheloindia) May 15, 2025 A total of 26 records were broken at KIYG 2025. Girls established eight of these records. Incidentally, five also became national youth records in weightlifting. Sairaj Pardeshi of Maharashtra accounted for three of these records himself, breaching the earlier Snatch, Clean and Jerk, and Total marks in the 81kg category. Union Sports Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya elucidated how the Khelo India programme, launched on October 14, 2017, will help India realise its Olympic dream. He said, 'Over the past decade, Indian sports have undergone a remarkable transformation. Under the Khelo India initiative, we have created a dynamic and inclusive sporting ecosystem with regular national-level competitions. Tamil Nadu's players pose with medals after winning gold medal in the women's volleyball event at the Khelo India Youth Games 2025, at Patliputra Sport Complex, in Patna. | Photo Credit: PTI Taking this vision forward, we will soon introduce a series of Khelo India Games throughout the year, including formats like the Khelo India Beach Games (KIBG) and others. These events will further strengthen our domestic sports structure and serve as a vital talent pipeline as we gear up for the Commonwealth Games 2030 and the Olympic Games 2036. India is on the move and the youth are at the heart of this sporting revolution.' The Khelo India caravan has hence set up camp in the picturesque Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, where the inaugural KIBG — a landmark event to draw national attention to coastal and beach sports — is currently underway.
Mint
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Mint
Former national shooting coach Sunny Thomas dies at 84
Former national shooting coach and Dronacharya awardee Sunny Thomas passed away at his residence in Uzhavoor on Wednesday following a brief illness, family sources said. He was 84. Thomas, who played a crucial role in elevating Indian shooting on the global stage, served as the coach of the national shooting team for 19 years, from 1993 to 2012. A college professor by profession, Thomas was a five-time state shooting champion and a national champion in 1976. During his tenure as coach, the Indian shooting team won numerous medals in international events, including the Olympics, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games. He also coached many Olympic medalists from India. In recognition of his contributions, he was honoured with the Dronacharya Award in 2001. Thomas is survived by his wife and two children. People from various walks of life, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan, have condoled the demise of Thomas. With his passing, the Indian shooting community has lost a coach who gave it direction, the CM said in his condolence message. "India performed best in shooting at the Olympics and World Championships when Sunny Thomas was the head coach," he recalled. Although the country did not have a significant legacy in shooting, Thomas became a world-renowned coach through his sheer dedication and willpower, he added. Olympian Abhinav Bindra expressed deep sorrow over Thomas's demise. "Deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Prof Sunny Thomas. He was more than a coach—he was a mentor, guide, and father figure to generations of Indian shooters," he wrote on 'X'. "His belief in our potential and his relentless dedication to the sport laid the foundation for India's rise in international shooting. He played a big role in my early years, and I'll always be grateful for his support and guidance. Rest in peace, sir. Your impact is everlasting," he added. First Published: 30 Apr 2025, 11:02 PM IST
Hans India
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Hans India
Abhinav Bindra mourns passing of Sunny Thomas, says he was a ‘father figure to generations of Indian shooters'
New Delhi: Legendary shooting coach Sunny Thomas passed away on Wednesday at Uzhavoor in the Kottayam district of Kerala at the age of 83. In his memory, Abhinav Bindra took to social media to mourn his passing. Sunny Thomas was also the former vice-president of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), the national coach for a long time, and earned the first Dronacharya award in Shooting. Prof. Sunny Thomas, a Dronacharya Awardee, was the coach of the Indian shooting team for 19 years from 1993-2012, mentoring many a champion shooter, including Abhinav Bindra, who became the first Indian to win an individual Olympic gold in Beijing in 2008, during his tenure. Abhinav Bindra was amongst the first to condole the death of Prof. Thomas as he took to social media and called the late Sunny Thomas a 'father figure to generations of Indian shooters.' 'Deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Prof. Sunny Thomas. He was more than a coach, he was a mentor, guide, and father figure to generations of Indian shooters. His belief in our potential and his relentless dedication to the sport laid the foundation for India's rise in international shooting. He played a big role in my early years, and I'll always be grateful for his support and guidance," posted Bindra. NRAI president Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo has led the Indian Shooting community in mourning the passing away of the legendary coach. 'This is a void which Indian shooting will find very difficult to fill,' said Shri. Singh Deo. 'Professor Thomas was an institution in shooting and India would not have become the Shooting power that it is today, without his selfless contribution to our sport. The entire shooting community is in grief, and on behalf of everyone at the NRAI, I send my heartfelt condolences to his loved ones,' he was quoted as saying by NRAI in a release on Wednesday.
The Hindu
30-04-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Former national shooting coach Sunny Thomas no more
Former national shooting coach and Dronacharya awardee Sunny Thomas died at his residence in Uzhavoor here on Wednesday morning following a brief illness, family sources said. He was 84. Thomas, who played a crucial role in positioning Indian shooting on the global stage, was the national team coach for 19 years, from 1993 to 2012. A college professor by profession, Thomas himself was a five-time state shooting champion and a national champion in 1976. Sunny Thomas with Abhinav Bindra in 2001. | Photo Credit: M LAKSHMAN/HINDU During his tenure as coach, the Indian shooting team won medals in various international events, including the Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. The nation recognised his contributions by bestowing him with the Dronacharya Award in 2001.
