3 Review(s)

About The Book: John Wilson's renowned work, published in 1877, focuses on the doctrine and practice of caste in India. The concept of pride in ancestry, family, social status, occupation, and religious preeminence, which characterizes "caste," is not unique to India. However, it was in India that the caste system manifested its most destructive and harmful development. While initially providing strength and stability to Hindu society, the system eventually deteriorated into a suffocating grip of the worst kind and, according to the author, became "the curse of India and the source of India's woes." This two-volume work meticulously examines the origin, evolution, nature, and consequences of the caste system in India. Volume I, titled "What Caste Is," comprehensively discusses the institution of caste as depicted in ancient Hindu texts from the Vedas to the Puranas, as well as how it was perceived by early Buddhist and Greek writers. Volume II, titled "What the Castes Are," delves into the Brahmanical or priestly caste, situated at the top of the caste hierarchy, with all its bewildering diversity. About The Author: John Wilson (1804-1875) was a Scottish Christian missionary, orientalist, and educator who made significant contributions in the Bombay presidency of British India. He pursued studies in linguistics, philosophy, and theology at the University of Edinburgh, becoming proficient in languages such as Gujarati, Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Urdu, Hindi, Persian, Arabic, and Zend. . Wilson's notable works include "Encouragement to Active Missionary Exertions" (1827), "The Life of John Eliot, Apostle of the Indians" (1828), "An Exposure of the Hindu Religion" (1832), "A Second Exposure of the Hindu Religion" (1834), "Missionary Journey in Gujarat and Cutch" (1838), "Idiomatical Exercises illustrative of the English and Marathi Languages" (1839), "The Parsi Religion... unfolded, refuted, and contrasted with Christianity" (1843), "The Doctrine of Jehovah, addressed to th