Sociology · Sociology of Indian Society
Chapter 7 : INDIAN CASTE SYSTEM
Table of contents51 sections
- 1.INDIAN CASTE SYSTEM
- 2.CASTE: MEANING AND CHARACTERISTICS
- 3.Key Terms
- 4.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 5.TRADITIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CASTE
- 6.Key Terms
- 7.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 8.THEORIES OF THE ORIGIN OF CASTE
- 9.Key Terms
- 10.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 11.FUNCTIONS OF CASTE
- 12.Key Terms
- 13.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 14.CHANGES IN THE CASTE SYSTEM
- 15.Changes in Caste System During British Rule
- 16.Caste in Independent India [After 1947]
- 17.Key Terms
- 18.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 19.CAUSES FOR THE CHANGES IN CASTE SYSTEM
- 20.Key Terms
- 21.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 22.MERITS AND DEMERITS OF CASTE
- 23.Key Terms
- 24.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 25.DOMINANT CASTES AND THEIR ROLE
- 26.Nature of Dominant Castes
- 27.Role and Influence of Dominant Castes
- 28.Key Terms
- 29.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 30.VARNA AND CASTE : DIFFERENCES
- 31.Key Terms
- 32.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 33.CASTE SYSTEM AND ESTATES SYSTEM
- 34.Key Terms
- 35.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 36.CASTE AND CLASS : DIFFERENCES
- 37.Key Terms
- 38.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 39.CASTE AND JAJMANI SYSTEM
- 40.Key Terms
- 41.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 42.CASTE AMONG THE NON-HINDUS IN INDIA
- 43.Caste Among the Muslims
- 44.Castes Among the Christians
- 45.Caste in Other Religions
- 46.Key Terms
- 47.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 48.FUTURE OF CASTE SYSTEM
- 49.Key Terms
- 50.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 51.Quick-Recall Box
Chapter preview
INDIAN CASTE SYSTEM
CASTE: MEANING AND CHARACTERISTICS
The social structure of Indian society is characterised by the unique ancient social institution of "Caste." While institutions similar to caste have been reported in Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, and other countries where Indians have migrated in large numbers, there are no parallel systems anywhere else in the world.
Caste as a Major Form of Social Stratification Sociologists recognise three major types of social stratification:
- Caste: Found only in India with all its peculiar features.
- Estates: Existed in Europe during the Medieval period (no longer in existence).
- Social Class: Almost universal, found in all civilised, industrialised, and literate societies today.
Caste and class largely decide a person's position in society, condition the extent of social mobility, fix the range of social contacts, and influence people's "life-styles".
Caste System is Peculiarly Indian The caste system, the joint family system, and the village system of life are regarded as the three basic pillars of the Indian social system. Traces of caste were found in Ancient Egypt, Japan, Rome, Burma, and Persia. Ancient Persians, Siberians, Etruscans, Mexicans, Peruvians, and Spartans had their own type of caste system. Systems resembling caste are presently found in Burma, Polynesia, Massai, and Somali of East Horn. However, the caste system with all its peculiarities is found in India alone.
Origin of the Word "Caste" According to S.V. Ketkar (1946), the word 'Caste' is of Spanish and Portuguese origin. It emerged from the Spanish word "Casta" (meaning 'lineage' or 'race'), which is derived from the Latin word "Castus" (meaning 'pure'). The Spaniards first used it, but its Indian application comes from the Portuguese, who used it to denote the Indian institution because they thought the system was intended to keep purity of blood. The word was loosely applied to hereditary classes in Europe and was not used in its Indian sense until the 17th century. Ketkar remarks that the "derivation of the word (caste) does not help us to understand what caste is."
Factors which Facilitated the Growth of Caste System in India Seven main factors…
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