Castes in India briefly. Indian castes: what are they? How many Dalits are there in India and how many castes do they have?

Indian society is divided into classes called castes. This division occurred many thousands of years ago and continues to this day. Hindus believe that by following the rules established in your caste, in your next life you can be born as a representative of a slightly higher and more respected caste, and occupy a much better position in society.

History of the origin of the caste system

The Indian Vedas tell us that even the ancient Aryan peoples living on the territory of modern India approximately one and a half thousand years BC already had a society divided into classes.

Much later, these social strata began to be called varnas(from the word “color” in Sanskrit - according to the color of the clothes worn). Another version of the name varna is caste, which comes from the Latin word.

Initially, in Ancient India there were 4 castes (varnas):

• brahmanas - priests;
• kshatriyas—warriors;
• vaisya—working people;
• Shudras are laborers and servants.

This division into castes appeared due to different levels of wealth: the rich wanted to be surrounded only by people like themselves, successful people and disdained to communicate with the poorer and uneducated.

Mahatma Gandhi preached the fight against caste inequality. with his biography, he is truly a man with a great soul!

Castes in modern India

Today, Indian castes have become even more structured, with many various subgroups called jatis.

During the last census of representatives of various castes, there were more than 3 thousand jatis. True, this census took place more than 80 years ago.

Many foreigners consider the caste system to be a relic of the past and believe that the caste system no longer works in modern India. In fact, everything is completely different. Even the Indian government could not come to a consensus regarding this stratification of society. Politicians actively work on dividing society into layers during elections, adding protection of the rights of a particular caste to their election promises.

In modern India more than 20 percent of the population belongs to the untouchable caste: They also have to live in their own separate ghettos or outside the boundaries of the populated area. Such people are not allowed to enter stores, government and medical institutions, or even use public transport.

The untouchable caste has a completely unique subgroup: society’s attitude towards it is quite contradictory. This includes homosexuals, transvestites and eunuchs, making a living through prostitution and asking tourists for coins. But what a paradox: the presence of such a person at the holiday is considered a very good sign.

Another amazing untouchable podcast - pariah. These are people completely expelled from society - marginalized. Previously, one could become a pariah even by touching such a person, but now the situation has changed a little: one becomes a pariah either by being born from an intercaste marriage, or from pariah parents.

Conclusion

The caste system originated thousands of years ago, but still continues to live and develop in Indian society.

Varnas (castes) are divided into subcastes - jati. There are 4 varnas and many jatis.

In India there are societies of people who do not belong to any caste. This - expelled people.

The caste system gives people the opportunity to be with their own kind, provides support from fellow humans and clear rules of life and behavior. This is a natural regulation of society, existing in parallel with the laws of India.

Video on Indian castes

Castes and Varnas in India: Brahmins, warriors, traders and artisans of India. Division into castes. High and low caste in India

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The division of Indian society into classes, called castes, originated in ancient times, has survived all the turns of history and social upheavals, and still exists today.

Since ancient times, the entire population of India has been divided into brahmins - priests and scientists, warriors - kshatriyas, traders and artisans - vaishyas and servants - shudras. Each caste, in turn, is divided into numerous subcastes, mainly along territorial and professional lines. Brahmans - the Indian elite can always be distinguished - these people with their mother's milk imbibed their purpose: to receive knowledge and gifts and to teach others.

They say that all Indian programmers are Brahmins.

In addition to the four castes, there are separate groups of untouchables, people engaged in the most dirty work, including leather processing, washing, working with clay and garbage collection. Members of the untouchable castes (which make up almost 20% of India's population) live in isolated ghettos in Indian cities and outside the outskirts of Indian villages. They cannot visit hospitals and shops, use public transport or enter government buildings.

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Among the untouchables themselves there is also a division into many groups. The top lines in the “table of ranks” of marginalized people are occupied by barbers and washerwomen, and at the bottom are sansies who make a living by stealing animals.

The most mysterious group of untouchables is the hijra - bisexuals, eunuchs, transvestites and hermaphrodites, wearing women's clothes and subsisting in begging and prostitution. It would seem that what is strange here? However, hijras are integral participants in many religious rituals and are invited to weddings and births.

The only thing worse than the fate of an untouchable in India is that of a pariah. The word pariah, which evokes the image of a romantic sufferer, actually means a person who does not belong to any caste, practically excluded from all social relations. Pariahs were born from a union of people belonging to different castes, or from pariahs. By the way, before you could become a pariah simply by touching it.

Castes in India - the reality of today

“India is a modern state in which there is no place for discrimination and inequality,” Indian politicians speak from the stands. “Caste system? We live in the 21st century! Any form of discrimination based on caste is a thing of the past,” public figures broadcast on talk shows. Even local villagers, when asked whether the caste system is still alive, answer at length: “it’s not like that anymore.”

Having seen enough of it up close, I set myself the task of observing and forming my own opinion: whether the caste system of India remains only in textbooks or on paper, or whether it lives on, disguised and hidden.

Village children from different castes play together.

As a result, having lived in India for 5 months, I can say with confidence:

1. The caste system exists in Indian state and today. People are given official documents that reflect their caste.
2. Enormous efforts of politicians, PR people, and television are aimed at eradicating discrimination based on caste.
3. In society, the caste system has been preserved and lives happily ever after. Elements of discrimination are still present. Of course, it is far from being in the same form as before, but still. “Caste is not important these days,” say Indians with their naive eyes wide open. And their daily actions confirm the opposite.

A little theory. What is the caste system.

In India, there are 4 main castes that depict the human body. Russians love to argue about caste, varna, what is what. I do not pretend to be a scientific treatise and will use the terminology that is used by “ordinary” Indians with whom I communicated on the issue. They use castes and podcasts in the English version. Jati - in living Hindi used. If they want to know a person's caste, they only ask what his jati is. And if they say where he is from, they usually give his last name. The caste is clear to everyone based on the last name. When asked what varna is, ordinary Indians could not answer me; they did not even understand this word. For them it is ancient and unused.

1st caste – head. Brahmins. Clergy (priests), thinkers, scientists, doctors.

A married couple from the Brahmin caste.

2nd caste – shoulders and arms. Kshatriyas. Warriors, police, rulers, organizers, administrators, landowners.

3rd caste – torso or belly. Vaishya. Farmers, artisans, traders.

Furniture makers. 3rd caste.

4th caste – legs. Shudras. Servants, cleaners. The Indians call them Untouchable - untouchables. They can both perform the lowest jobs and occupy high positions - thanks to the efforts of the government.

Within the castes, they are divided into a large number of subcastes, which are arranged in a hierarchical order relative to each other. There are several thousand podcasts in India.

No one in Khajuraho could really tell me what the difference is between the subcastes within the 1st and 2nd castes, and what, more specifically, is their purpose. Today, only the level is clear – who is higher and who is lower relative to each other.

With the 3rd and 4th caste it is more transparent. People determine the purpose of the caste directly by their last name. Haircut, sewing, cooking, making sweets, fishing, making furniture, herding goats - examples of podcast 3. Tanning leather, removing dead animals, cremating bodies, cleaning sewers are examples of the 4th caste subcaste.

A child from the cleaner caste is the 4th.

So what has been preserved from caste systems in our time, and what has sunk into oblivion?

I am sharing my observations of the lives of the people of Madhya Pradesh. Residents of advanced cities - I know what’s wrong with you :) You are already much closer to the west. But in our wilderness it’s the way I write :)

Manifestations of the caste system that have disappeared or changed today.

1. Previously, settlements were built according to the principle of division of castes. Each of the 4 castes had their own streets, square, temples, etc. Today, in some places there are communities, and in others they are mixed. This doesn't bother anyone. Only a few villages have retained their original organization, with a clear division of territory. For example, in .

Old village of Khajuraho. Retained the organization of streets according to castes.

1. All children have equal opportunities to receive an education. The issue may be money, but not caste.

A boy grazes buffaloes at sunset and learns a lesson from a notebook.

1. All people have the opportunity to work in government agencies or large companies. People belonging to lower castes are given quotas, jobs, etc. God forbid they start talking about discrimination. When entering university or work, the lower castes are generally in chocolate. For example, the passing mark for a Kshatriya may be 75, and for the same place for a Shudra it may be 40.
2. Unlike the old days, a profession is often chosen not according to caste, but as it turns out. Take our restaurant workers, for example. The one who has to sew clothes and the fisherman work as cooks, one waiter is from the washerwoman caste, and the second is from the kshatriya caste of warriors. The cleaner is called to be a cleaner - he is from the 4th caste - Shudra, but his younger brother already washes only the floor, but not the toilet, and goes to school. His family hopes for a bright future for him. There are several teachers in our family (kshatriyas), although traditionally this is the domain of the brahmins. And one aunt sews professionally (one of the 3rd caste subcastes does this). My husband's brother is studying to become an engineer. Grandfather dreams of when someone will go to work in the police or army. But so far no one has gathered.
3. Some things were forbidden for castes. For example, the consumption of meat and alcohol by the first caste - Brahmins. Now many Brahmins have forgotten the behests of their ancestors and eat whatever they want. At the same time, society condemns this, very strongly, but they still drink and eat meat.
4. Today people are friends regardless of caste. They can sit together, communicate, play. Previously this was impossible.
5. Government organizations - such as schools, universities, hospitals - are mixed. Any person has the right to come there, no matter how some wrinkle their noses.

Evidence of the existence of a caste system.

1. The untouchables are the sudras. In cities and the state they are protected, but in the outback they are considered untouchable. In a village, a Shudra will not enter the house of representatives of higher castes, or will only touch certain objects. If he is given a glass of water, then it is thrown away. If someone touches a sudra, he will go and take a shower. As an example, our uncle has a gym. It is located in rented premises. 3 representatives of the 4th caste came to my uncle. He said, of course, do it. But the brahmana, the owner of the house, said - no, I don’t allow untouchables to be in my house. I had to refuse them.
2. A very clear proof of the viability of the caste system is marriages. Most weddings in India today are organized by parents. This is the so-called arranged-marriage. Parents are looking for a groom for their daughter. So, the first thing they look at when choosing him is his caste. In large cities, there are exceptions when young people from modern families find each other for love and get married to the sighs of their parents (or simply run away). But if the parents themselves are looking for a groom, then only in accordance with caste.
3. We have 20,000 people in Khajuraho. At the same time, no matter who I ask about - what caste they are from, they will definitely answer me. If a person is known a little, then his caste is also known. At a minimum, the top one is 1,2,3 or 4, and very often they also know the podcast - where it is inside. People easily say who is taller than whom and by how many steps, how castes relate to each other.
4. The arrogance of people from the highest castes - 1st and 2nd - is very noticeable. Brahmins are calm, but periodically express slight contempt and disgust. If a representative of a lower caste or a Dalit works as a cashier at a railway station, no one will wonder what caste he belongs to. But if he lives in the same village as a Brahmin, and everyone knows what caste he is from, the Brahmin will not touch him or take anything. Kshatriyas are outright bullies and braggarts. They playfully bully representatives of lower castes, command them, and they just giggle stupidly, but don’t answer anything.

Representative of the 2nd caste - Kshatriyas.

1. Many representatives of the 3rd and 4th castes show demonstrative respect to people from the 1st and 2nd. They call the Brahmins Maraj, and the Kshatriyas Raja or Dau (patron, protector, elder brother in Bhundelkhand). They fold their hands in namaste to the level of their heads when they greet, and in response they only deign to nod their heads. They often jump out of their chair when the upper caste approaches. And, the worst thing is, they periodically try to touch their feet. I have already written that in India, when people say hello or during important holidays, they can touch their feet. Mostly they do this with their family. Brahmins also touch their feet in the temple or during a ceremony. So, some individuals strive to touch the feet of people of a higher caste. This used to be common, but now, in my opinion, it looks ingratiating. It is especially unpleasant when an older person runs to touch the feet of a young person to show him respect. By the way, the 4th caste, as previously oppressed and now actively defended, behaves more boldly. Representatives of the 3rd caste behave respectfully and are happy to serve, but the cleaner may snap at you. It’s very funny to watch, again, using the example of a restaurant, how employees, without hesitation, scold each other. At the same time, it takes a lot of effort for everyone to reprimand the cleaner, and they try to shift this mission onto me. He always listens to me, looking with delight with wide open eyes. If others have the opportunity to communicate with whites - this is a tourist place, then the Shudras rarely manage to do this, and they remained in awe of us.
2. Despite the fact that representatives of different castes spend time together, as I wrote earlier (point 6 of the last block), inequality is still felt. Representatives of the 1st and 2nd castes communicate with each other as equals. And towards others they allow themselves more impudence. If something needs to be done, the one with the lower caste will immediately blow himself up. Even between friends these marajs and daws are constantly heard. It happens that parents may prohibit their children from making friends with representatives of lower castes. Much, of course, depends on upbringing. What is more clearly expressed on the street, in an institute, for example, is no longer noticeable - here everyone usually communicates on equal terms and with respect.

Children of farmers - 3rd caste.

1. Above, I wrote about equal and even better conditions for low castes when applying for government jobs or large companies. However, this does not work in small towns and villages. I asked my husband whether he could hire a Shudra as a cook. He thought for a long time and said, after all, no. No matter how great the cook is, this is not possible. People won't come and the restaurant will have a bad reputation. The same applies to hairdressing salons, sewing shops, etc. Therefore, for those who want to get to the top, the only way is to leave their native places. To a place where there are no friends.

In conclusion, I want to say about the new caste that rules the world. And in India too. This is the money caste. Everyone will remember about a poor kshatriya that he is a kshatriya, but they will never show as much respect as a rich kshatriya. It saddens me to see how educated but poor Brahmins are sometimes favored and humiliated in front of those who have money. A Sudra who has become rich will move in a “higher”, so to speak, society. But he will never receive the same respect as the Brahmins. People will run to him to touch his feet, and behind his back they will remember that he is... What is happening now in India is probably very similar to the slow death of European high society, when rich Americans and local merchants slowly penetrated it. The lords first resisted, then secretly slandered, and in the end they completely became history.

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Indian society is divided into classes called castes. This division occurred many thousands of years ago and continues to this day. Hindus believe that by following the rules established in your caste, in your next life you can be born as a representative of a slightly higher and more respected caste, and occupy a much better position in society.

Having left the Indus Valley, the Indian Aryans conquered the country along the Ganges and founded many states here, whose population consisted of two classes that differed in legal and financial status. The new Aryan settlers, the victors, seized land, honor, and power in India, and the defeated non-Indo-European natives were plunged into contempt and humiliation, forced into slavery or into a dependent state, or, driven into the forests and mountains, they lived there in inaction thoughts of a meager life without any culture. This result of the Aryan conquest gave rise to the origin of the four main Indian castes (varnas).

Those original inhabitants of India who were subdued by the power of the sword suffered the fate of captives and became mere slaves. The Indians, who submitted voluntarily, renounced their father's gods, adopted the language, laws and customs of the victors, retained personal freedom, but lost all land property and had to live as workers on the estates of the Aryans, servants and porters, in the houses of rich people. From them came the Shudra caste. "Sudra" is not a Sanskrit word. Before becoming the name of one of the Indian castes, it was probably the name of some people. The Aryans considered it beneath their dignity to enter into marriage unions with representatives of the Shudra caste. Shudra women were only concubines among the Aryans. Over time, sharp differences in status and professions emerged between the Aryan conquerors of India themselves. But in relation to the lower caste - the dark-skinned, subjugated native population - they all remained a privileged class. Only the Aryans had the right to read the sacred books; only they were consecrated by a solemn ceremony: a sacred thread was placed on the Aryan, making him “reborn” (or “twice-born”, dvija). This ritual served as a symbolic distinction between all Aryans and the Shudra caste and the despised native tribes driven into the forests. Consecration was performed by placing a cord, which was worn placed on the right shoulder and descending diagonally across the chest. Among the Brahmin caste, the cord could be placed on a boy from 8 to 15 years old, and it is made of cotton yarn; among the Kshatriya caste, who received it no earlier than the 11th year, it was made from kusha (Indian spinning plant), and among the Vaishya caste, who received it no earlier than the 12th year, it was made of wool.

The "twice-born" Aryans were divided over time, according to differences in occupation and origin, into three estates or castes, with some similarities to the three estates of medieval Europe: the clergy, the nobility and the urban middle class. The beginnings of the caste system among the Aryans existed back in the days when they lived only in the Indus basin: there, from the mass of the agricultural and pastoral population, warlike tribal princes, surrounded by people skilled in military affairs, as well as priests who performed sacrificial rites, already stood out. When the Aryan tribes moved further into India, into the country of the Ganges, militant energy increased in bloody wars with the exterminated natives, and then in a fierce struggle between the Aryan tribes. Until the conquests were completed, the entire people were busy with military affairs. Only when the peaceful possession of the conquered country began did it become possible for a variety of occupations to develop, the possibility of choosing between different professions arose, and a new stage in the origin of castes began.

The fertility of the Indian soil aroused the desire for peaceful means of subsistence. From this, the innate tendency of the Aryans quickly developed, according to which it was more pleasant for them to work quietly and enjoy the fruits of their labor than to make difficult military efforts. Therefore, a significant part of the settlers (“vishes”) turned to agriculture, which produced abundant harvests, leaving the fight against enemies and the protection of the country to the princes of the tribes and the military nobility formed during the period of conquest. This class, engaged in arable farming and partly shepherding, soon grew so that among the Aryans, as in Western Europe, it formed the vast majority of the population. Therefore, the name Vaishya “settler”, which originally designated all Aryan inhabitants in new areas, began to designate only people of the third, working Indian caste, and warriors, kshatriyas and priests, brahmans (“prayers”), who over time became privileged classes, made the names of their professions with the names of the two highest castes.

The four Indian classes listed above became completely closed castes (varnas) only when Brahmanism rose above the ancient service to Indra and other gods of nature - a new religious doctrine about Brahma, the soul of the universe, the source of life from which all beings originated and to which they will return. This reformed creed gave religious sanctity to the division of the Indian nation into castes, especially the priestly caste. It said that in the cycle of life forms passed through by everything existing on earth, Brahman is the highest form of existence. According to the dogma of rebirth and transmigration of souls, a creature born in human form must go through all four castes in turn: to be a Shudra, a Vaishya, a Kshatriya and, finally, a Brahman; having passed through these forms of existence, it is reunited with Brahma. The only way to achieve this goal is for a person, constantly striving for deity, to exactly fulfill everything commanded by the brahmanas, to honor them, to please them with gifts and signs of respect. Offenses against Brahmanas, severely punished on earth, subject the wicked to the most terrible torments of hell and rebirth in the forms of despised animals.

The belief in the dependence of the future life on the present was the main support of the Indian caste division and the rule of the priests. The more decisively the Brahman clergy placed the dogma of transmigration of souls at the center of all moral teaching, the more successfully it filled the imagination of the people with terrible pictures of hellish torment, the more honor and influence it acquired. Representatives of the highest caste of Brahmins are close to the gods; they know the path leading to Brahma; their prayers, sacrifices, holy feats of their asceticism have magical power over the gods, the gods have to fulfill their will; bliss and suffering in the future life depend on them. It is not surprising that with the development of religiosity among the Indians, the power of the Brahman caste increased, tirelessly praising in its holy teachings respect and generosity towards the Brahmans as the surest ways to obtain bliss, instilling in the kings that the ruler is obliged to have Brahmans as his advisers and make judges, is obliged to reward their service with rich content and pious gifts.

So that the lower Indian castes did not envy the privileged position of the Brahmans and did not encroach on it, the doctrine was developed and strenuously preached that the forms of life for all beings are predetermined by Brahma, and that the progression through the degrees of human rebirth is accomplished only by a calm, peaceful life in the given position of man, the right one. performance of duties. Thus, in one of the oldest parts of the Mahabharata it is said: “When Brahma created beings, he gave them their occupations, each caste a special activity: for the brahmanas - the study of the high Vedas, for the warriors - heroism, for the vaishyas - the art of labor, for the shudras - humility before other flowers: therefore ignorant Brahmanas, unglorious warriors, unskillful Vaishyas and disobedient Shudras are worthy of blame.” This dogma, which attributed divine origin to every caste, every profession, consoled the humiliated and despised in the insults and deprivations of their present life with the hope of an improvement in their lot in a future existence. He gave religious sanctification to the Indian caste hierarchy.

The division of people into four classes, unequal in their rights, was from this point of view an eternal, unchangeable law, the violation of which is the most criminal sin. People do not have the right to overthrow the caste barriers established between them by God himself; They can achieve improvement in their fate only through patient submission. The mutual relations between the Indian castes were clearly characterized by the teaching; that Brahma produced the Brahmanas from his mouth (or the first man Purusha), the Kshatriyas from his hands, the Vaishyas from his thighs, the Shudras from his feet dirty in mud, therefore the essence of nature for the Brahmanas is “holiness and wisdom”, for the Kshatriyas it is “power and strength”, among the Vaishyas - “wealth and profit”, among the Shudras - “service and obedience”. The doctrine of the origin of castes from different parts of the highest being is set forth in one of the hymns of the last, most recent book of the Rig Veda. There are no concepts of caste in the older songs of the Rig Veda. Brahmins attach extreme importance to this hymn, and every true believer Brahmin recites it every morning after bathing. This hymn is the diploma with which the Brahmins legitimized their privileges, their dominion.

Thus, the Indian people were led by their history, their inclinations and customs to fall under the yoke of the caste hierarchy, which turned classes and professions into tribes alien to each other, drowning out all human aspirations, all the inclinations of humanity. Main characteristics of castes Each Indian caste has its own characteristics and unique characteristics, rules of existence and behavior. Brahmins are the highest caste Brahmins in India are priests and priests in temples. Their position in society has always been considered the highest, even higher than the position of ruler. Currently, representatives of the Brahmin caste are also involved in the spiritual development of the people: they teach various practices, look after temples, and work as teachers.

Brahmins have many prohibitions: Men are not allowed to work in the fields or do any manual labor, but women can do various household chores. A representative of the priestly caste can only marry someone like himself, but as an exception, a wedding with a Brahman from another community is allowed. A Brahmana cannot eat what a person of another caste has prepared; a Brahmana would rather starve than eat forbidden food. But he can feed a representative of absolutely any caste. Some brahmanas are not allowed to eat meat.

Kshatriyas - warrior caste

Representatives of the Kshatriyas always performed the duties of soldiers, guards and policemen. Currently, nothing has changed - kshatriyas are engaged in military affairs or go to administrative work. They can marry not only in their own caste: a man can marry a girl from a lower caste, but a woman is prohibited from marrying a man from a lower caste. Kshatriyas can eat animal products, but they also avoid forbidden foods.

Vaishya Vaishyas have always been the working class: they farmed, raised livestock, and traded. Now representatives of the Vaishyas are engaged in economic and financial affairs, various trades, and the banking sector. Probably, this caste is the most scrupulous in matters related to food intake: vaishyas, like no one else, monitor the correct preparation of food and will never eat contaminated dishes. Shudras - the lowest caste The Shudra caste has always existed in the role of peasants or even slaves: they did the dirtiest and hardest work. Even in our time, this social stratum is the poorest and often lives below the poverty line. Shudras can marry even divorced women. The Untouchables The untouchable caste stands out separately: such people are excluded from all social relations. They do the dirtiest work: cleaning streets and toilets, burning dead animals, tanning leather.

Amazingly, representatives of this caste were not even allowed to step on the shadows of representatives of higher classes. And only very recently they were allowed to enter churches and approach people of other classes. Unique Features of Castes Having a brahmana in your neighborhood, you can give him a lot of gifts, but you shouldn’t expect anything in return. Brahmins never give gifts: they accept, but do not give. In terms of land ownership, Shudras can be even more influential than Vaishyas.

Shudras of the lower stratum practically do not use money: they are paid for their work with food and household supplies. It is possible to move to a lower caste, but it is impossible to get a caste of a higher rank. Castes and modernity Today, Indian castes have become even more structured, with many different subgroups called jatis. During the last census of representatives of various castes, there were more than 3 thousand jatis. True, this census took place more than 80 years ago. Many foreigners consider the caste system to be a relic of the past and believe that the caste system no longer works in modern India. In fact, everything is completely different. Even the Indian government could not come to a consensus regarding this stratification of society. Politicians actively work on dividing society into layers during elections, adding protection of the rights of a particular caste to their election promises. In modern India, more than 20 percent of the population belongs to the untouchable caste: they have to live in their own separate ghettos or outside the boundaries of the populated area. Such people are not allowed to enter stores, government and medical institutions, or even use public transport.

The untouchable caste has a completely unique subgroup: society’s attitude towards it is quite contradictory. These include homosexuals, transvestites and eunuchs who make their living through prostitution and asking tourists for coins. But what a paradox: the presence of such a person at the holiday is considered a very good sign. Another amazing podcast of the untouchables is Pariah. These are people completely expelled from society - marginalized. Previously, one could become a pariah even by touching such a person, but now the situation has changed a little: one becomes a pariah either by being born from an intercaste marriage, or from pariah parents.