“Because of the diversity of the Indian subcontinent there have always been populations whose social practices were not influenced by the Brahminical ideas during 600 BCE-600 CE.’’ Examine the statement.

Brahmanical ideas during 600 BCE-600 CE :

1. In Sanskrit texts populations whose social practices were not influenced by Brahmanical ideas are often described as odd, uncivilised, or even animal-like.
2. In some instances, these included forest-dwellers– for whom hunting and gathering remained an important means of subsistence.
3. Categories such as the Nishada, to which Ekalavya is supposed to have belonged, are examples of this.
4. While the Brahmanas considered some people as being outside the system, they also developed a sharper social divide by classifying certain social categories as “untouchables but historians have tried to find out whether chandalas accepted the life of degradation prescribed in the shastras.
5. Hidimba marrying Bhima against the social practices prescribed in the Dharamshastras.
6. Others who were viewed with suspicion included population such as Pastoralist.
7. Whenever brahmanical authorities encountered new groups which did not easily fit into the fourfold varna system they classified them as Jatis.
8. Others who were viewed with suspicion included populations such as nomadic pastoralists, who could not be easily accommodated within the framework of settled agriculturists who spoke non-Sanskritic languages were labelled as Melachhas.