Page:An Essay On Hinduism.pdf/139

horror. Very often the expulsion from caste of an individual or family is caused by a personal dislike. Almost all Hindus but those of his caste would treat the man just as they did before. The majority of Hindus would look upon that man as being as much a full-fledged Hindu as any other member of his caste. Again, almost always the individual is taken back into the caste on the receipt of a fine which the caste prescribes. Very often a large number of individuals are expelled from the caste on account of certain offences. This expulsion very often produces a caste, which the old caste looks down upon. When a person is excommunicated he really belongs to no caste, and therefore his condition becomes wretched. The people of his caste would form no matrimonial alliance with him, would not even dine with him. It should also be remembered that a man prior to his exclusion by the caste could contract marriages with his own class.

The only thing by which a man ceases to be a Hindu is the formal alliance with Christianity or Mohamedanism. This is primarily due to the fact that Christians and Mohamedans do not call themselves Hindus, and apply the term Hindu to those Indians who are neither Christians nor Mohamedans nor Parsees nor Jews. According to the Hindu theory, when a man becomes a Christian all that takes place is that he gives up his own caste and joins the caste of Christians.

Boycotting is considerably practised all over India. One caste very often boycotts another caste; that is, refuses to do them habitual service. Suppose some quarrels arise between some barbers and some carpenters; then the barber caste in order to punish the carpenters would refuse them service and thus bring them to terms. Boycotting