Samskara is largely informed by the caste system, a hierarchy created by the sacred texts of Hinduism. As depicted in the novel, the system rigidly structures members of Hindu society into five different class categories. By taking a closer look at the history of castes, a reader will better understand the events of the novel, and the social norms that shape its events. This is particularly true of the Brahmin caste, as almost all of the major events of the novel revolve around Brahmanism and its various practices.
The caste system originated in the Manusmriti, a Hindu legal text dictating rules and regulations. It holds up the caste system as the foundation of order in Hindu society. It splits all Hindus into four main categories: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras. These castes are of great consequence as they determine where people live, who they marry, and what jobs they can hold. Brahmins are the highest caste and typically served as teachers and scholars. Kshatriyas were warriors and politicians. Vaishyas worked as traders and Shudras did physical labor. While not officially a caste, the lowest class of people are the Dalits, or outcastes, they are often known as the untouchables. Their low social status resulted in them holding the least desirable jobs, like latrine cleaners and street sweepers.
This system dominated Indian society for centuries, dictating where everyone fell in the social order. This led to a great deal of repression of the lower classes, as it benefitted the upper classes, particularly the Brahmins, almost exclusively. As depicted in the novel, these designations allowed the Brahmins to treat people in lower classes however they wished. In essence, it trapped people in cycles of poverty that could not be escaped. Since the 1950s, efforts at reform have been made, including the institution of hiring quotas that attempt to distribute jobs evenly among the castes. Still, as recently as 2015, riots and violent protests have broken out across the region over the subject, as people from different towns and cities demand inclusion in the quotas.
The caste system is both a defining feature of Hindu history and a troubling reminder of the result of class hierarchy. As depicted in the book, it can be easily used to justify the mistreatment and systemic oppression of groups of people. One of Samskara's central thematic concerns is the danger of a class system that upholds the interests of a wealthy minority on the basis of a religious designation. Ananthamurthy writes with a keen awareness of this system's many pitfalls.
