Indian Caste System: A Study by C. Hayavadana Rao is a concise yet important examination of one of India’s most enduring social institutions. First published in 1931, the book gathers together leading views of the time to explain how caste arose, how it worked, and what effects it had on society. Rao begins with a historical overview of caste before turning to different theories of its origin. He outlines the Brahmanical explanation rooted in religion and custom, then moves through several influential modern interpretations. These include Nesfield’s view of caste as an occupational order, Senart’s focus on ritual prohibitions and sacra-mental practices, and Sir Herbert Risley’s racial theory linking caste to physical and ethnological differences. Finally, Rao presents what he calls the ‘Indian Theory’, grounded in indigenous traditions and social developments. Beyond questions of origin, the book examines the far-reaching effects of caste on everyday life – its role in shaping identity, regulating social conduct, and maintaining divisions of privilege and exclusion.
