The caste system

In Asia, there is a tremendous difference between rich and poor. In countries with many Hindus, it is particularly difficult for poor people to improve their social conditions because of the caste system

The caste system divides the population into various social groups, the so-called castes. Generally spoken, there are four castes and a fifth group, people without caste who are also referred to as untouchables (dalits). The group of people without caste consists mostly of tribal people from non-Hindu populations or people whose jobs are considered to be unclean such as garbage collectors or cremators.

Your next life depends on your behaviour in this life

Hindus believe in rebirth. This means that after death, a soul leaves the dead corpse and is reborn in a new body. The belief in rebirth is essential for the caste system because it is believed that a person is born into a particular caste because of how this person has acted in an earlier life. For example, it is believed that a person who mistreats an animal, risks being reborn as a dog.

The caste system creates sharp barriers

Thus Hindus believe that it is a kind of just punishment if a person belongs to the lowest caste. Therefore they will not accept a person from the lowest caste trying to get a job which falls under the domain of a higher caste. This means that the caste system creates some very fixed and hierarchic structures in society by creating very sharp and almost impenetrable boundaries between the castes.

Even though the caste system is officially illegal in most countries, it still exists in practice. This is true for instance in India where most Hindus live.

You can find more about the caste system at: http://www.dalitindia.org/caste/caste.htm