Question

‘Because of the diversity of the Indian subcontinent there have always been populations whose social practices were not influenced by the Brahminical ideas during 600 BCE – 600 CE.’ Examine the statement.

Answer 1

Because of the diversity of the Indian subcontinent there have been populations whose social practices were not influenced by the Brahminical ideas.

Explanation:

• In Sanskrit manuscripts, populations are often described as odd, uncivilized, or even animal-like whose social practices were not influenced by Brahmanical ideas.
• In some cases, people living in the forest were included for whom hunting and gathering were still an important means of livelihood.
• Groups for example Nishada, Ekalvya were supposed to have belonged to them, are an example of this.
• Nomadic pastoralists, who would not be easily fit in with interesting the structure of settled agriculturists who spoke non-Sanskrit languages, were viewed with doubt and were tagged as Melachhas.

Answer 2

Brahmanical ideas during 600 BCE-600CE

In Sanskrit texts populations whose social practices were not influenced by Brahmanical ideas are often described as odd, uncivilised, or even animal-like

(i) In some instances, these included forest-dwellers -for whom hunting and gathering remained an important means of subsistence.

(i) Categories such as the Nishacda, to which Ekalavya is supposed to have belonged, are examples of this

(iv) Others who I with suspicion included population such nomadic pastoralists, who could not be easily accommodated within the framework of settled agriculturists who spoken Sanskrit languages were labelled as Melachos

(V) While the Brahmanas considered some people as being outside the system, they also developed a sharper social divide by classifying certain social categories as "untouchables but historians have tried to find out whether chandalas accepted the life of degradation prescribed in the shastras

(vi) Hidimba marriage Bhima against the social practices presented in the Dharmashastras

(vi) Others who were viewed with suspicion included population such as Pastoralist

(vii) Whenever brahmanical authorities encountered new groups which did not easily fit into the fourfold varna system they classified them as Jatis

(ix) Aspects related with Non- Kshatriyas king

(x) Many new questions were raised alternate traditions like Buddhism, Jainism appealed to lower class as believe all things are animated and all are equal

(xii) Metronymics was followed the Satavahanas

(xii) The case of chandala named Matanga given in Matanga Jataka

(xiv)Prabhavati Gupta had access to property unlike other daughters

Any eight to be explained