Abstract Caste system has remained an integral part of the Hindu social order. It has served to provide the uniqueness and the complexity to the latter. During colonial period as well as in the postcolonial period, it has been the most sought after issue. The colonial encounter added a new narrative to this system, as has been argued by the scholars such as Nicholas Dirks. However, apart from colonial officials, the non-official leaders of the ruling country also played an important role in the making of the present-day construct of the caste system. Annie Besant was one such leader, who came to India in 1893 as a leader of the Theosophical Society. She endorsed and extolled the caste system of the land as the best social structure this world has ever had. In this article, I attempt to throw light on Besant’s reading of the caste system and her role in strengthening the roots of this system.

中文翻译：

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安妮·贝桑特对印度种姓制度的辩护：批判

摘要 种姓制度一直是印度社会秩序的一个组成部分。它为后者提供了独特性和复杂性。在殖民时期和后殖民时期，它一直是最受追捧的问题。正如尼古拉斯·德克斯 (Nicholas Dirks) 等学者所论证的那样，殖民遭遇为该系统添加了新的叙述。然而，除了殖民官员之外，统治国家的非官方领导人在当今种姓制度的构建中也发挥了重要作用。Annie Besant 就是这样的一位领袖，她于 1893 年作为神智学会的领袖来到印度。她赞同并称赞这片土地的种姓制度是这个世界有史以来最好的社会结构。在本文中，