Answer the following in about 500 words each.1. Critically examine the interactional approach to the study of Caste
Answers
Answer:
Explanation:
There are two major approached to defining the caste system;
These are;
Attribution-al approach
Interaction-al approach
The interactional approach to study of caste system talks about the caste in terms of a ranking of a caste in practical and local areas. It is manifest in patterns of interpersonal behaviour and in patterns of association.
The attributional approach to study of caste system tells us more about the features of the whole caste system. The caste system in India follows a hierarchical order. The order is differentiated in terms of it's ranking such as membership by birth, customs and traditions followed in terms of the society they live in, land ownership etc This structure shows all the qualities about this caste system.
Answer: Over time, there have been numerous religious and sociological explanations to the origin of the Caste system, that puts forward the idea of the hierarchy and divisions of labor on the basis of caste, and much more. To analyze the idea and comprehend what 'Interactional Approach to caste' is, we need to first go through the various explanations provided to the origin of Caste.
Religious explanation: Religious explanations of caste origins in Hinduism was first developed from verses in the Rig Veda. One legend goes that in the beginning of time, the creator of the world, Brahma produced Varnas from different parts of his body. The Brahmins (white) were created from his head, the Kshatriyas (red) were created from his chest, the Vaishyas (yellow) from his thighs and the Shudras (black) from his feet. The order of status of work in the society was set accordingly. The apex social duties were performed by the Brahmins. They were responsible for preserving knowledge and performing priestly duties. The Kshatriyas were responsible for the protection of the society; the Vaishyas were responsible for trade and commerce and the Shudras were to serve the Varnas above them.
Sociological explanation: In the words of Max Weber, a German sociologist, Caste was considered to be a status group for people belonging to various social and economic status. Thus, the castes were classified on the basis of work done by people. The castes were also distinguished by the ritual opposition between the states of 'purity' and 'pollution' which was associated with persons or objects. Thus castes were ranked according to their level of 'purity'. The Brahmins' followed 'pure ' occupations such as priesthood, and hence were at the topmost level of purity, whereas the Shudras were responsible for serving the other castes. They comprised mainly of artisans and laborers and hence, they were in the lowest order of 'purity' or 'polluted'. It was mandatory to maintain the 'purity' and hence there was complete avoidance between the upper and the lower castes.
There are two basic approaches to explain the various divisions in caste, viz. Attributional approach to caste and Interactional approach to caste.
Interactional Approaches to caste: Interactional approaches to caste includes the ranking of castes with respect to one another, on the basis of observations and experiences. Various studies were conducted by various sociologists, in different parts of the country. They studied behavioral patters in terms of acceptance of food, smoking together, and the roles played during important rituals, in different remote areas of the country, to comprehend the aspects of caste division better.
For example, the Brahmins officiated all the rituals, and consequently they received the service of every other caste. The lowest caste does not receive any services, but they are responsible for the services offered to all the other castes. Brahmins also accepted only 'pakka' food (food cooked in ghee or oil) from members of the higher castes and only accepted 'kaccha' food, food that is uncooked or cooked in water, from the lower castes.