Write an essay on the Interface between Caste and class.
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The relationship between caste, class and power has to be examined in the context of change. Because of the introduction of democracy, land reforms and many other measures, change has been an important feature of this relationship over the last few decades. The distribution of power has acquired a very dynamic character over the last two decades. In some ways the traditional relationship between caste and power has been reversed.
As a traditional basis of stratification caste is a distinctive category in the Indian social system. Though it had its beginning in the Hindu philosophy of four ‘Varna’s’ corresponding to four functional divisions, it has resulted in the perpetuation of several caste groups by birth among the Hindus, leaving about one third of them as out castes (called Harijans by Mahatma Gandhi). By impact or otherwise caste also extends to other religious communities in India, such as the Muslims and the Christians.
Caste is a community as it is based on Kinship and primordial affinity, whereas class is an occupational and economic category and hence limited in social interaction. The caste system is a segmental division of society. It is hereditary. There are regular caste councils to regulate and control the conduct of all members.
Traditionally it is the hierarchical arrangement of castes according to different degrees of dominance and privileges. The Brahmins in India stand at the apex of the social ladder. A Brahmin is entitled to whatever exists in this world. The whole world is his property and others live on his charity. In the caste hierarchy the Brahmins are followed by the Kshatriyas and Vaishyas.
At the bottom are Sudras. Along with the untouchables, the Sudras constitute the downtrodden section of the Hindu society. The supposition of purity and pollution being communicated by some caste groups to the members of the higher caste places severe restrictions on the extent of feeding and social intercourse. In terms of social group, caste is an occupationally specialized group which is close knit on account of the fact that social custom sanctions marriage within the same caste.
This endogamy, being the “essence of the caste system”, any man violating this law is put out of his own sub-caste. Members of a particular caste group are expected to take to their hereditary occupation. No caste would allow its members to follow any occupation which was either degrading or impure. It was not only the moral pressure of one’s own caste group that compelled one to choose one’s occupation but also the prohibition imposed by other castes whose members did not permit members of the castes except their own to take to their occupation. The impure castes suffer from civil and religious disabilities.
The stratification or division of society into several ranks on the basis of super ordination and subordination, is a characteristic feature of most of the social systems. Social scientists use class as the powerful concept of stratification for explaining social organization, social movements and power structure. Greek philosopher, Plato conceived of three great classes on the basis of natural faculties. The ancient ‘Varna’ model of classification of Hindu society was based on an identical functional division of fourfold classification which eventually evolved into the caste system.
A social class may be interpreted in a couple of ways. First, it may be defined in terms of some objectives, normally economic. According to Karl Marx, classes are large groups of people who differ from each other by their relation to the means of production, by their role in the social organization and labour and consequently by the mode and dimension of acquiring the share of social wealth of which they dispose.
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The relationship between caste, class and power has to be examined in the context of change. Because of the introduction of democracy, land reforms and many other measures, change has been an important feature of this relationship over the last few decades. The distribution of power has acquired a very dynamic character over the last two decades. In some ways the traditional relationship between caste and power has been reversed.
As a traditional basis of stratification caste is a distinctive category in the Indian social system. Though it had its beginning in the Hindu philosophy of four ‘Varna’s’ corresponding to four functional divisions, it has resulted in the perpetuation of several caste groups by birth among the Hindus, leaving about one third of them as out castes (called Harijans by Mahatma Gandhi). By impact or otherwise caste also extends to other religious communities in India, such as the Muslims and the Christians.
Caste is a community as it is based on Kinship and primordial affinity, whereas class is an occupational and economic category and hence limited in social interaction. The caste system is a segmental division of society. It is hereditary. There are regular caste councils to regulate and control the conduct of all members.
Traditionally it is the hierarchical arrangement of castes according to different degrees of dominance and privileges. The Brahmins in India stand at the apex of the social ladder. A Brahmin is entitled to whatever exists in this world. The whole world is his property and others live on his charity. In the caste hierarchy the Brahmins are followed by the Kshatriyas and Vaishyas.
At the bottom are Sudras. Along with the untouchables, the Sudras constitute the downtrodden section of the Hindu society. The supposition of purity and pollution being communicated by some caste groups to the members of the higher caste places severe restrictions on the extent of feeding and social intercourse. In terms of social group, caste is an occupationally specialized group which is close knit on account of the fact that social custom sanctions marriage within the same caste.
This endogamy, being the “essence of the caste system”, any man violating this law is put out of his own sub-caste. Members of a particular caste group are expected to take to their hereditary occupation. No caste would allow its members to follow any occupation which was either degrading or impure. It was not only the moral pressure of one’s own caste group that compelled one to choose one’s occupation but also the prohibition imposed by other castes whose members did not permit members of the castes except their own to take to their occupation. The impure castes suffer from civil and religious disabilities.
The stratification or division of society into several ranks on the basis of super ordination and subordination, is a characteristic feature of most of the social systems. Social scientists use class as the powerful concept of stratification for explaining social organization, social movements and power structure. Greek philosopher, Plato conceived of three great classes on the basis of natural faculties. The ancient ‘Varna’ model of classification of Hindu society was based on an identical functional division of fourfold classification which eventually evolved into the caste system.
A social class may be interpreted in a couple of ways. First, it may be defined in terms of some objectives, normally economic. According to Karl Marx, classes are large groups of people who differ from each other by their relation to the means of production, by their role in the social organization and labour and consequently by the mode and dimension of acquiring the share of social wealth of which they dispose.
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