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Book No. – 002 (Sociology)
Book Name – Sociology (C.N. Shankar Rao)
What’s Inside the Chapter? (After Subscription)
1. THE CASTE SYSTEM
2. DEFINITION AND CHARACTERISTICS OF CASTE
2.1. Definition
2.2. Characteristics of Caste
2.3. Caste Panchayat
3 CHANGES IN THE CASTE SYSTEM
4. CHANGES IN CASTE SYSTEM DURING THE BRITISH RULE
4.1. The British Intention was to Rule and not to Initiate Reformative Chances
4.2. Pre-Industrial British Period [1757 to 1918 A.D.]
4.3. Pre-Independent Industrial Period [1919-1947]
5. CASTE IN INDEPENDENT INDIA (AFTER 1947]
5.1. CHANGES IN THE TRADITIONAL FEATURES OF CASTE
5.2. CHANGES IN THE ROLE OF CASTE
5.3. CAUSES FOR THE CHANGES IN CASTE SYSTEM
5.4. MERITS AND DEMERITS OF CASTE SYSTEM
6. ESTATE SYSTEM
6.1. Meaning and Nature of Estate
6.2. Characteristics of Estates
7. THE CASTE SYSTEM AND THE ESTATES SYSTEM
8. SOCIAL CLASS
8.1. Definition
8.2. Nature and Characteristics of Social Class
9. CRITERION OF CLASS
10. MARXIAN ANALYSIS OF CLASS
10.1. Criticism
11. CASTE AND CLASS: DIFFERENCES
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Caste – Estates and Class
C.N. Shankar Rao – Sociology
Chapter – 21
THE CASTE SYSTEM
- Caste and class are the two main forms of social stratification, both influencing social mobility and selection.
- Caste and class largely determine the position a person occupies in society, and one’s social contracts are largely fixed by their status.
- Caste or class determines an individual’s status, with caste being unique to India and class being universal.
- Both caste and class influence and condition the lifestyle of individuals.
- The caste system is the basis of stratification in India, while the class system is more prevalent in Western societies.
- The caste system is an integral part of the Indian social system, alongside the joint family system and the village system.
- Caste is deeply embedded in Hindu philosophy, religion, custom, tradition, marriage, family, morals, manners, food, dress habits, occupations, and hobbies.
- The caste system is believed to have a divine origin and is supported by rituals and ceremonies.
- India has more than 2800 castes and sub-castes, with major castes like Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras found across states.
- The term caste comes from the Spanish and Portuguese word meaning breed or lineage, signifying race or kind.
- The Sanskrit word for caste is Varna, meaning colour, with race and colour being central to the caste system.
- The caste system originated from the Chaturvarna system, which divided Hindu society into four main varnas: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras.
- The caste system evolved from the Varna system, which was originally based on the division of labour and occupation.
- The current caste system is a degeneration of the original Varna system, with hundreds of castes, rather than the original four.
- Factors that facilitated the growth of the caste system in India include:
- Geographic isolation of India, fostering old customs and traditions.
- The influence of religion, with caste seen as a divinely ordained institution and beliefs in reincarnation and Karma reinforcing it.
- The presence of many races in India, leading to strict laws concerning discrimination to maintain racial purity.
- The static rural social structure of India, which favored the caste system’s growth.
- The unwillingness of rulers to enforce uniform laws, recognizing varying customs.
- Lack of education and widespread illiteracy, making people more accepting of caste rules and restrictions.
- Additional factors include hereditary occupations, Brahmins’ desire to maintain purity, family exclusivity, ancestor worship, economic and administrative policies by conquerors, and clashes of races and colour prejudices.