The interpretation of Indian caste system In social thought of the Bengal Renaissance

Annotation. The article aim is to trace the origins of becoming of Indian scientific research on caste system. Based on the sources of social thought history, the author describes the interpretations of caste system by thinkers of the Bengal Renaissance XIX– early XX century. From the one hand, these explanations were the part of ‘Discovery of India’ (Jawaharlal Nehru’s term) phenomenon and presented the attempts of self-knowledge through philosophical critics of caste hierarchy. From the other hand, Bengal thinkers turned the caste system into the object of intellectual analysis and the theme of social thought, as well as they had marked the areas of study such as a genesis and evolution of varnas, the role of Brahmins, inter-varnas conflicts, genesis of low castes etc. Sociologically, Bengal thinkers had shown socio-genetic nature and historical variablilty of caste system, its traditional functions and rationality. The works by social reformers, thinkers and scientists demonstrated many-sided critics of caste order along with its rules, norms and restrictions, which became rigid and incapable for transformation in Modern circumstances. The Bengal intellectuals have discovered the imperative of caste system research for self-knowledge and discovery of their own culture for the world society and science.

Keywords: caste system, the Bengal Renaissance social thought, theoretical interpretation of caste phenomenon, caste hierarchy, Branmins, untouchables

For citation: Skorokhodova T.G. The Interpretation of Indian Caste System in Social Thought of the Bengal Renaissance. // Modern oriental studies. 2022. № https://doi.org/10.24412/2686-9675-1-2022-116-137