CHAPTER III 



CASTE, A LIMITING FACTOR 



Observation shows that the "Caste System," that bed- 

 rock of the Hindu religion, is the fundamental cause for 

 India's poverty, in that it is the greatest factor in limit- 

 ing production. It does this in a number of ways. For 

 instance I employed a sweeper whose work kept him 

 occupied for less than two hours a day. His wages were 

 two dollars a month. Indian servants feed themselves. 

 He had a wife and six children. When I paid him his 

 wages he held it in his hand and looked at it. He said, 

 "Sahib, it is very hard to feed eight people on such a 

 small sum." I answered that I did not see how he did 

 it. I said, "I would like to pay you more money if you 

 earned it. The gardener has asked for help to dig in the 

 garden. If you will go and help him I will gladly pay 

 you." He replied that he would go and dig in the 

 garden. He started in to work. In a few minutes the 

 gardener came to me 'and asked for his pay. I said, 

 "What is the matter? Are you not satisfied with your 

 work? Do I not treat you fairly?" He replied, "0 

 yes, Sahib, you treat me all right and the work is all 

 right, but I must leave." "Why? What is the matter 

 that you cannot work?" "Well, Sahib, you have sent 

 that sweeper to work in the garden. If he stays I go." 

 ' ' But, you asked me for aid and I sent him to help you. 

 He has a wife and six children and gets two dollars a 



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