Definition

1. Noun:
   • A member of the lowest traditional social class (varna) in the Hindu caste system: Historically, a Shudra is a person belonging to the class of servants and laborers.
   • The social class or varna itself: Shudra refers to the collective group or the status of being in this worker and servant caste.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • In ancient texts, the Shudra was described as performing service for the other varnas.
  • He was born into the Shudra caste, traditionally associated with labor and service.

Advanced Usage

• The term Shudra is used in sociological, historical, and religious studies to discuss the structure of traditional Hindu society.
• In modern contexts, the term is often used critically when discussing caste-based discrimination and social hierarchy.

Variants and Related Words

• Shudra is the most common English transliteration. Other less common spellings include Sudra.
• Varna (n): The broader system of four principal social classes in Hinduism, of which Shudra is one.
• Caste (n): The complex system of social stratification in India, with Shudra being one of the major divisions.

Synonyms

• Laborer (in the specific context of the traditional caste role).
• Servant (in the specific context of the traditional caste role).
• Worker caste member.

Notes on Meaning

• The term carries significant historical and social weight. It denotes a specific hereditary social position, not merely an occupation.
• Its usage in contemporary English often appears in academic or descriptive discussions about caste, rather than as a term for individuals in daily life, due to its potentially pejorative and discriminatory connotations.

Noun

1. the lowest of the four varnas: the servants and workers of low status
2. a member of the lowest or worker Hindu caste