Question

Equality and justice issues in India

Answer 1

The issue of social inequality is a crucial problem of Indian society. The study of social stratification of a society based either on caste or on class, is concerned largely with the understanding of inequality. Louis Dumont, a French sociologist, has explained ‘inequality’ in caste system on a different basis.

He holds that ‘hierarchy’ and not ‘in­equality’ is the opposite of ‘equality’. He explains ‘hierarchy’ in caste system in terms of ‘purity and pollution’, which according to him, is the basic principle of caste system. Hierarchy, according to him, involves the superiority of the pure to the impure, separation of the pure from the im­pure, and separation of pure occupations from the impure ones in the division of labour.