We have been taught that these occupational names hardened into jati over time, presided over by upper caste people, apparently unlike in Europe where they merely became surnames like Smith, Baker, Carpenter, Carter, Kellogg (=“kill hog”, pork butcher), Schmidt, Faber, Herrera, Kovacs, etc....
In a seminar class, there may be no exams, but students are expected to read rather widely on topics and be prepared for thorough discussion of them in class. Another possibility in graduate classes is that in addition to readings done by all students, each student may also be expected to ...