Mon Dec 29 00:35:00 UTC 2025: News Article:
Historian Traces the Evolution of Caste in India: A Lecture at the Indian History Congress
Thalassery, Kerala – December 29, 2025 – Writer Tony Joseph delivered a guest lecture at the 84th annual session of the Indian History Congress at Government Brennen College in Thalassery, Kerala on December 28th 2025. The lecture, dedicated to the memory of historian Prof. MGS Narayanan, presented a detailed analysis of the evolution of the caste system in India, focusing on the period between the first millennium BCE and the late first millennium CE.
Joseph, author of ‘Early Indians’, outlined his research for an upcoming book on the cultural formation of India, arguing that the caste system did not arise from a single cause like purity-pollution beliefs or racial differences. Instead, he proposed that it was a product of political and economic circumstances, primarily the need for a unified religious and social structure within newly-formed kingdoms.
He highlighted the emergence of the brahmana caste as a consequence of the creation of a unified Vedic canon under the Kuru tribe, followed by the de facto rise of the kshatriya (warrior/ruler) caste based on power, and the subsequent incorporation of the “vis” (common folk) and “shudra” (laborers) into the system.
Joseph emphasized the critical role of the alliance between the ruling power and the priestly class in establishing and perpetuating the caste system. He also noted the significant opposition to the system, especially from Sramanic religions like Buddhism and Jainism, during the Mauryan period. The lecture discussed the fierce competition and conflict between the Brahmanical and Shramanic views.
He argued that the solidification of the caste system was linked to the expansion of agriculture, which required a structured labor force and led to the co-option of local groups and the appropriation of their land. He highlighted the rise of Temples, the rise of local deities who were easily available (Siva, Krsna and Balarama), and the writing of epics to further shape the caste system. He also noted that rulers would invite Brahmanas from Aryavarta to settle on land that had been granted to them.
Joseph concluded by stating that the core of the caste system – the alliance between rulers and priests, and the concept of “ascending reverence and descending contempt” – persisted despite centuries of resistance. The lecture sparked considerable discussion among attendees, offering a fresh perspective on the complex history of caste in India.
First Piper 