Caste The caste system in India is an important part of ancient Hindu tradition which dates back to 1200 BC. Portuguese travelers who came to India in the 16th century first used the word caste. It means “race”, “breed”, or “lineage”. There are 3,000 castes and 25,000 subcastes in India, each related to a specific occupation. The purpose of the caste system is to divide Hindus of India into different social classes. There are five main classes, or “…showed first 75 words of 426 total…

…showed last 75 words of 426 total…against. Today, many people want to do away with the caste system and this is beginning to come true in India. It seems that no rigid system will be better for most people, but especially to those who have been labeled “untouchable” in the past. Hopefully, without a caste system, everyone will have a fair chance to become what he or she wants to be, without the caste title to hold him or her back.