D'jarra

From Memory Alpha, the free Star Trek reference.

The D'jarras are a Bajoran caste system, once used by the Bajorans to create a stratified social hierarchy. Everyone was born into a specific caste of D'jarras based on their family, which determined their occupation. Higher-ranking D'jarras were treated with respect and deference by those of lower ranks. For example, the Ih'valla are a caste of artists and sculptors, and were ranked higher than the Te'nari.

The D'jarra system was set aside during the Cardassian Occupation of Bajor, so that all Bajorans could fight to liberate their homeworld. After the Cardassian withdrawal, the status quo was maintained, as too many people were now performing jobs far different from their D'jarras.

In 2372, Akorem Laan called for the restoration of the D'jarra system after he assumed the position of Emissary of the Prophets, believing that the Bajorans had strayed from the path the Prophets set for them by abandoning the D'jarras. The resumption of the D'jarras was a deeply divisive issue amongst the Bajorans, many of whom refused to return to their castes. Akorem hoped that eventually the D'jarras would be enforced by legal measures, such as deportation.

For the Federation, the D'jarras were also a source of great concern since caste-based discrimination would disqualify Bajor for Federation membership. When a vedek from the family Imutta was murdered by Vedek Porta for refusing to resign, because his D'jarra involved preparing the dead for burial and was therefore unclean, Captain Benjamin Sisko challenged Akorem's claim as the Emissary. After the Prophets confirmed that Sisko was the true Emissary, the idea of D'jarras was quickly abandoned. (DS9: "Accession")

[edit] Apocrypha

The non-canon Star Trek: Terok Nor novel Day of the Vipers, includes several other D'jarra castes:

• Mi'tino - low ranking merchants and land owners
• Va'telo - pilots, sailors and similar professions
• Ke'lora - laborers and lawmen

Imutta is listed as the "unclean" caste that deals with the dead. In "Accession", Imutta was only given as the family name of a person of this caste.

[edit] External link

• D'jarra at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works