The Hindu SOCIETY is an ancient social structure that has been in place for centuries. It is based on the CASTE system, which is a hierarchical system of social stratification that assigns individuals to different social classes based on their birth. The term 'CASTE' comes from the Portuguese word 'casta, ' meaning 'race, breed, or kind.' The term 'samaj' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'samaja, ' which means 'SOCIETY' or 'COMMUNITY.' Together, these two terms refer to the Hindu SOCIETY and its complex social structure.