The Dhaarmik Traditions - Indic Studies Foundation

2. This is probably the first evidence of an organized division of Labor based on
aptitudes. In other words it was a meritocracy. It was not intended to be a hereditary
system. The system unfortunately degraded into a hereditary system.
Sudra; This (in the Purusha Suktam) is probably the first occurrence o f the word
Shudra in the Sruti
Shudra or Sudra is the fourth varna (See Appendix H, the glossary) in the traditional
four section division of labor in Indic society. Their assigned and expected role of
the Sudra in Vedic India was that of artisans and laborers. The four varnas are
Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaisya, (see Glossary) and Shudra. Whilst the origins of the
other varnas can be traced to Indo-Iranian or even Proto Indo-European words, the
root of the word Sudra is not clear at all. A threefold division of societies can be
found in ancient Iran that matches the Brahmana, Kshatriya and Vaisya varnas.
Although linguistically related Nuristani people in neighboring Afghanistan have a
class equivalent to the Shudras amongst them. It has been proposed ,mistakenly it
turns out that the Shudras were same as Dasas and Dahyus, who are portrayed as
enemies of the Aryans in the Vedas, and who it is said were enslaved by the Aryans.
But the latter groups are also encountered in the Avestan texts and no subjugation
is mentioned, though enmity is. The ancient texts of India betray no such
subjugation by conquest resulting in servile group of people, but merely assume
that the Shudras are part of society, even if not the most exalted. There is no
171