Caste System and Social Stratifcation in India PROJECT ON Caste System and Social Stratifcation in India
SUBMITTED TO – Dr. Uttam !mar Panda "#$CU%T& O# SOCIO%O'&(
SUBMITTED SUBMIT TED B& – R$JES) UM$R MIS)R$ RO%% NO. – *+ SEMESTER – IiI
D$TE O# SUBMISSION – ,-/0/0
)ID$&$ )ID$&$TU%%$) TU%% $) N$TION$% %$1 UNI2ERSI UNI2 ERSIT& T&33 R$IPUR
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Caste System and Social Stratifcation in India
$c4no5led6ements First & foremost, I take this opportunity to thank Dr. Uttam Kumar Panda, Faculty, Sociology, !"U, for allotting me this challenging topic to #ork on. e has $een %ery kind in pro%iding inputs for this #ork, $y #ay of suggestions.
I #ould also like to thank my dear colleagues and friends in the Uni%ersity, #ho ha%e helped me #ith ideas a$out this #ork. "ast, $ut not the least I thank the Uni%ersity dministration for e'uipping the Uni%ersity #ith such good li$rary and I.(. facilities, #ithout #hich, no dou$t this #ork #ould not ha%e taken this shape in correct time.
Rajesh Kumar Mishra Semester-III, Batch-IX Roll no-56
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Caste System and Social Stratifcation in India $BBRE2I$TIONS USED &***********************........................................nd I+**************************..ll India +eporter rt*******************************..rticle -***********************..ther -ack#ard lasses S**************************..*.Scheduled aste S(**************************...*.Scheduled (ri$e US************************United States f merica
CONTENTs 1. Introduction***************************...../0 ). aste as a system********........................................................................./
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Caste System and Social Stratifcation in India 2. istory of caste system in India ********************../3 4. +ele%ance of caste system in India*******************..1/ 5. Pro%isions for $ack#ard castes in Indian onstitution**********..*..11 0. aste system6 n impediment to national gro#th*..************.14
. aste system and Politics in India*******************...15 7. aste System and Social Stratification******************1 3. onclusion****************************...13 1/. -i$liography****************************)1
RESEARCH METH!"#$ (his pro8ect #ork is descripti%e & analytical in approach. It is largely $ased on secondary & electronic sources of data. -ooks & other references as guided $y faculty of sociology are primarily helpful for the completion of this pro8ect.
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Caste System and Social Stratifcation in India
Intro%uction 9 I have no colour prejudices nor caste prejudices nor creed prejudices. All I care to know is that a man is a human being, and that is enough for me; he can't be any worse.” aste system hierarchically di%ides the society. sense of highness and lo#ness or superiority and inferiority is associated #ith this gradation or ranking. (he -rahmins are placed at the top of the hierarchy and are regarded as pure or supreme. (he degraded caste or the untoucha$les ha%e occupied the other end of the hierarchy. (he status of an 1
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Caste System and Social Stratifcation in India indi%idual is determined $y his $irth and not $y selection nor $y accomplishments.
em$ership in a group is only through $irth. (he groups are e=hausti%e, e=clusi%e, and discrete? that is, e%ery person is a mem$er of such a group and of only
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Caste System and Social Stratifcation in India one? he is clearly recogni@ed $y others as a mem$er of his separate group. >em$ership in his group influences most of his separate group. >em$ership in his group influences most of his roles and acti%ities? there is a high degree of 9role summationA. !o one should try to change his inherited mem$ership and any attempts $y indi%iduals to shift themsel%es to a higher group are strongly disappro%ed. +elati%e ranks affect almost all social relations. >ost interaction among people of different groups in%ol%es considerations of superiority and inferiority, and superiority means greater pri%ileges, precedence and a larger share of the good things in life.
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Caste System and Social Stratifcation in India ha%e o$8ected to the system as #ell as to their position in it. In this #ay there is more consensus a$out the proper nature of the social system in India than in the South, though -erreman stresses that in neither place do the lo#er groups accept the concept of their inferiority. ) (he principal functions of a caste system are t perpetuate social and cultural di%ersities, and to enforce and articulate them. (hese functions are highly dysfunctional in the modern #orld, irrele%ant to human #elfare and sources of unnecessary conflict and suffering. (he critics of such definitions of aste system 'uestion #hether the category is a useful one. ertain groups, such as the lo#er ranking groups in Capan, do not fit readily into the general definition. (hese critics point out, moreo%er, that speciali@ation is essential in all modern societies and leads to some degree of stratification and ranking. Social and cultural di%ersities ha%e to $e articulated in all societies? each separate group tends to seek some pri%ileges and po#er for its mem$ers. (hese processes are inherent in a comple= society and, as processes, can scarcely $e called dysfunctional. (he trend in most contemporary societies is certainly a#ay from the inclusi%e, in%idious distinctions of caste di%isions $ut also it is a#ay from cultural pluralism and to#ards a cultural conformity, #hich some deplore. (hose critics add that the discussions of caste systems in general ha%e done little to ad%ance an understanding of caste organi@ation in Indian ci%ili@ation. -ut at least these discussions of #hat is meant $y a caste system helps us to understand the systems of Indian society as part of the human continuum, as special phrasings and configurations of social processes common among much of mankind. It is especially important to understand the dynamic nature of the Indian systems, $ecause they ha%e so often $een depicted as static in indu scripture and in %illagers concepts, as #ell as in much of the #riting on the su$8ect.
Histor& o' caste s&stem in In%ia (e%ic )erio%* (he de%elopment of the caste system in India ne%er seems to $e ha%ing
any uni%ersally accepted history as such. (hough there is a general speculati%e faith that 2
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Caste System and Social Stratifcation in India the earliest settlers to this land, the Indo;ryans might ha%e actually esta$lished the caste system, gradually placing them in the higher ladder of the society. (here is a #hole lot of contro%ersy regarding the theory of the Indo;ryan migration. (he Bedas or the most ancient shruti te=ts emphasis %ery less on the caste system, same is maintained in a hymn from the +ig Beda. "ater scriptures like -haga%ad Gita and >anu Smriti propounds four Barnas, to $e Gods creation. (here is a general idea $elie%ed $y scholars that may $e in the initial phases the caste system #as a $it fle=i$le. >igration from one caste to the other #as possi$le $y s#itching 8o$s. Barious passages from >anu Smriti and other scriptures emphasi@e that the caste system in India #as originally non;hereditary. (herefore, through these facts one gets an impression ho# the caste system de%eloped in the later stages into a firm intricate structure from a $enda$le one in the earlier Bedic age. Colonial India: (he castes did not constitute a rigid description of occupation or the
social status $ut the -ritishers attempted to e'uate the Indian aste System to their o#n colonial caste system since the -ritish society #as di%ided $y class. -ritishers further codified the caste system in India and made it more rigid. So the caste system played an important
role in shaping
economic
acti%ities in
Indian
society.
(he
fluidity
of caste system #as affected $y the arri%al of -ritish policy of di%ide and rule. +igid categori@ation of population also contri$uted to#ards the hardening of caste identities.
Post -independence: In semi rural areas and small to#ns the caste system is still %ery
rigid. aste is also a %ery important factor in the politics of India. fter independence, the go%ernment has officially documented castes and su$;castes, primarily to determine reser%ation in education and 8o$s through census. (he Indian reser%ation system relies entirely on 'uotas for scheduled castes, scheduled tri$es and other $ack#ard castes. (his system has $een fairly successful in $ringing the $ack#ard castes into the mainstream. o#e%er, the caste $ased reser%ations in India has also led to #idespread protests due to re%erse discrimination against the upper caste. lso the caste $ased politics in India has created %arious undue tensions amongst the social forces. Hith a passage of si=;decades after independence the caste $ased discrimination in our country has $een addressed to some e=tent $ut there is still enough scope to $ridge the inter; caste gaps in the society. (he economic and social e'uality, glo$ali@ation, e=tensi%e
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Caste System and Social Stratifcation in India education, youth empo#erment and social organi@ations ha%e contri$uted a great deal in mello#ing do#n the deeply rooted caste $ased discrimination in our country.
Rele+ance o' caste s&stem in In%ia* lthough India is a political democracy, the hierarchical caste system is deeply rooted into the society, #hether it is !orth or South, indus or >uslims and cities or %illages. (his system of discrimination, $et#een the high and lo# castes e=ists, almost in e%ery community. (he caste system #as e%ol%ed #hen Indias ancient ci%ili@ations, a$sor$ed the nomadic ryan population #ho crossed central sia to enter northern India. (he four castes de%eloped out of necessity of its o#n social order and moral and ritual 'uotes. (he #ord caste comes from Portuguese #ord asta J$reed or race. (he Sanskrit #ord that applied to the groupings #as Barna, #hich is often interpreted as colour. o#e%er as per >aha$harata, if different colors indicate different castes the all castes are mi=ed castes. (he indus also $elie%ed that the Barna of a man is determined $y his profession and deeds rather than his $irth. (raditionally, the political po#er rested #ith kshatriyas and -rahmins #ere custodian of dharma. (he Baishyas #ere the traders and running the economy #hereas, Shudras #ere ser%ice pro%iders.2 unctions o' caste s&stem*- (he caste system is credited to ensure the continuity of the
traditional social organi@ation of India. It has accommodated multiple communities including in%ading tri$es in the Indian society. (he kno#ledge and skills of the occupations ha%e passed do#n from one generation to the ne=t. (hrough su$systems like Ca8mani system, the caste system promoted interdependent interaction $et#een %arious castes and communities #ith in a %illage. (he rituals and traditions promoted cooperation and unity $et#een mem$ers of the different castes.
ro+isions 'or .ac/0ar% castes in In%ian Constitution* (he %ision of the formulators of the Indian onstitution #as to de%elop India into a socialist state. socialist state is the one that protects and uplifts its #eaker sections. It stri%es to reduce the social and economical ine'uality $et#een the people. (o achie%e this goal, our constitution has incorporated se%eral pro%isions that are in the $enefit of the 3
###[email protected] L +eference L istory of India, "ast updated on )2 septem$er,)/1/
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Caste System and Social Stratifcation in India #eaker sections of the society. -ased on these pro%isions the central and state go%ernments implement plans or frame la#s to turn this %ision into reality.
Due to the caste system pre%ailing in India, the sudras ha%e $een e=ploited for the ages. (hey #ere denied the right to education and thus #ere left languishing $ehind, socially and economically. Such people ha%e $een categori@ed into Scheduled astes. (ri$al communities, #ho ne%er mi=ed #ith the main society, are similarly challenged and are categori@ed into S(. (he constitution does not define the term $ack#ard classes. It is up to the center and the states to specify the classes that $elong to this group. o#e%er, it is understood that classes that are not represented ade'uately in the ser%ices of the state can $e termed $ack#ard classes. Further, the President can, under rt. 24/, can constitute a commission to in%estigate the condition of socially and educationally $ack#ard classes. -ased
on
this
report,
the
president
may
specify
the
$ack#ard
classes.
lause 4 of article 15 is the fountain head of all pro%isions regarding compensatory discrimination for Ss:S(s. (his clause #as added in the first amendment to the constitution in 1351 after the S 8udgement in the case of Cham)a/am !orairajan +s State o' Ma%ras . It says thus, M!othing in this article or in rticle )3J) shall pre%ent the
state from making any pro%isions for the ad%ancement of any socially and economically $ack#ard classes of citi@ens or for Scheduled astes and Scheduled (ri$es.M (his clause started the era of reser%ations in India. In the case of Balaji +s State o' M&sore , the S held that reser%ation cannot $e more than 5/N. rt. 15J4 talks a$out $ack#ard classes and not $ack#ard castes thus caste is not the only criterion for $ack#ardness and other criteria must also $e considered. Finally, in the case of In%ra Sa0hne& +s 1nion o' In%ia, S upheld the decision gi%en under -ala8i %s State of >ysore that reser%ation
should not e=ceed 5/N e=cept only in special circumstances. rt. 15 J5 clause #as added in 32rd amendment in )//5 and allo#s the state to make special pro%isions for $ack#ard classes or Ss or S(s for admissions in pri%ate educational institutions, aided or unaided. rt. 10J4 clause allo#s the state to reser%e %acancies in pu$lic ser%ice for any $ack#ard classes of the state that are not ade'uately represented in the pu$lic ser%ices. rt. 10 J4 allo#s the state to implement reser%ation in the matter
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Caste System and Social Stratifcation in India of promotion for Ss and S(s. rt. 10J4- allo#s the state to consider unfilled %acancies reser%ed for $ack#ard classes as a separate class of %acancies not su$8ect to a limit of 5/N reser%ation. rt. 1 a$olish untoucha$ility and its practice in any form. lthough the term untoucha$ility has not $een defined in the constitution or in any act $ut its meaning is to $e understood not in a literal sense $ut in the conte=t of Indian society. 4 Due to the %arna system, some people #ere relegated to do menial 8o$s such as cleaning toilets. Such people #ere not to $e touched and it #as considered a sin to e%en touch their shado#. (hey #ere not e%en allo#ed to enter pu$lic places such as temples and shops. (he constitution stri%es to remo%e this a$horring practice $y not only making the pro%ision a fundamental right $ut also allo#s punishment to #hoe%er practices or a$ets it in any form. (o#ards this end, Protection of i%il +ights ct 1355 #as enacted. rt. 4/ Pro%ides reser%ation in 1:2 seats in Panchayats to S:S(.
rt. 104 ppoint special minister for tri$al #elfare in the states of >P, -ihar, and disha. rt. )5 llo#s special grant in aids to states for tri$al #elfare. rt. 22/ and 22) allo# reser%ation of seats for S:S( in the parliament as #ell as in state legislatures. rt. 225 llo#s rela=ation in 'ualifying marks for admission in educational institutes or promotions for Ss:S(s. rt. 24/6 llo#s the president to appoint a commission to in%estigate the condition of socially and economically $ack#ard classes and ta$le the report in the parliament.
Reser+ations*
Indian constitution en%isages a state #here e%ery$ody is treated e'ually. <%en in the pream$le, the constitution stri%es to pro%ide e'uality in opportunity. Further, the constitution adopts the concept of Mlike should $e treated alikeM as the $asis of e'uality. (hus, it is %ery clear that the constitution guarantees special pro%isions to $e made for the $etterment of special classes of citi@ens. In Part OBI, the constitution has laid do#n se%eral
articles
that
pro%ide
preferential
treatment
to
$ack#ard
classes.
(here can $e se%eral #ays through #hich the condition of $ack#ard classed can $e 4
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Caste System and Social Stratifcation in India impro%ed and reser%ation is one such #ay. So it can $e safely said that although reser%ation is not guaranteed $y the constitution or it is not a constitutional right $ut it is certainly protected $y the constitution as a mechanism to uplift the underpri%ileged classes. Critical Anal&sis an% ersonal +ie0*
In my %ie#, reser%ation, in principle, is an effecti%e means of impro%ing the condition of socially and economically $ack#ard classes. Further, since #rongs #ere done against S:S(s in the name of caste system, I $elie%e that they should $e meaningfully compensated. o#e%er, it must $e alienated from politics for truly $enefiting these classes. It must $e ensured that this $enefit goes to the really deser%ing people and not to those #ho ha%e already a%ailed its $enefit. (he o$8ecti%e of reser%ation should $e to $ring an end to reser%ation itself $y uplifting e%ery one of the $ack#ard classes.
(herefore, I think that the 8udgement deli%ered in the case of In%ra Sa0hne& +s 1nion o' In%ia $y the S in 1332 is a %ery fair one $ecause it $alances the amount of
compensation #ith general efficiency of administration $y capping reser%ation to 5/N. It also ensures that the $enefits are not hogged $y the already empo#ered people Je=clusion of creamy layer.5
Caste s&stem* An im)e%iment to national 2ro0th If there is one thing that is a characteristic of an Indian, irrespecti%e of his region, his language and e%en his religion, then it is his or her caste. India has a long history of a society di%ided in different castes and Caats, #hich goes $eyond )5// years. (here are mentions of a society $ased on %arnas Jclass that are decided $y the occupation or interests of a person, in the Bedas, that are the oldest #ritten $ooks of indu religion. %er a period of time, these classes $etter kno#n as castes $ecame a hereditary phenomenon, making castes permanent. (he caste system is not restricted to indus only, as there are different castes among >uslims and also at some places in India, among hristians. -ut the most rigid, pre%alent and uni%ersal caste system e=ists among indus that constitute 7/ percent of the population. 5
indiaEresource.tripod.com:social.htm, "ast updated on ) septem$er,)/1/
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Caste System and Social Stratifcation in India (o understand caste system, it is important to understand its history and e%olution in Indian conte=t. Initially, the society #as di%ided among 4 ma8or castes or classes, that #ere -rahmans, Kshatriyas ,Baisyas and Shudras. (he caste of a person #as decided $y his or her occupation. People #ho #ere kno#ledgea$le, had intellectual $ent of mind and #ere a scholar, a teacher or a learned man #ere the -rahmans. Kshatriyas #ere the people in the occupation of #arfare, kings and other #arriors. Baisyas #ere the $usinessman, shopkeepers, and traders etc. nd the last castes #ere the group of people #ho performed daily day;to;day life duties, like cleaner, gardener, la$orer etc. -ut #ith time this system has deteriorated to a large e=tent. (oday there are more than )5// different castes and su$;castes in India. It is decided $y the $irth of the person and not $y ones interests, that to #hich caste #ill one $elongs. nd also the castes are hierarchical in order. (he -rahmans are the upper class and the Shudras, the lo#er class. From more than 1/// years, Shudras, are seen #ith disrespect, #ith no dignity of la$or, and are e%en humiliated for the caste they $elong to. Some of the lo#er castes are also termed as Untoucha$les, making them an outcast among the general pu$lic. (oday, caste system is one of the $iggest impediments in the path of Indias success as a country. (his system makes the po#er and resources of country di%ided. lso, the e=istence of hierarchical caste system causes disharmony and gi%es rise to hatred among common people. Political leaders ha%e actually deteriorated the condition $y playing their dirty games of making the caste an issue of elections. It is an open secret that in many places across the country, the %otes are cast , keeping in mind the caste of the candidate, rather than his or her #ork in the direction of de%elopment. (he intermingling of caste and politics has played ha%oc #ith the progress of the nation. nother ma8or conse'uence of the disease called caste system is +eser%ations. (he $ack#ard castes, #hich are SJScheduled castes, S(JScheduled (ri$es and the -J other $ack#ard castes, are pro%ided reser%ations in all go%ernment schools, colleges and in pu$lic sector 8o$s of )).5 percent for S, S( and ) percent for -, apart from many other $enefits like education concessions and financial assistance etc. (his in my opinion, is disastrous and in reality, 8ust a #ay to #oo the %otes of these castes. s these reser%ations, leads to a set of students and employees, #ho selected are
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Caste System and Social Stratifcation in India not on the $asis of their merit? $ut on the $asis of their castes. (his is nothing less than a caste system #ith the re%ersed hierarchical order and not actually a solution to it. lso this reduces the o%erall 'uality of employees and future engineers, doctors etc and render many meritorious students 8o$less. I $elie%e reser%ation, if pro%ided, should $e on economical $asis. s the current reser%ations are more of a political stunt then an actual step in the direction of doing a#ay #ith aste system.
Caste s&stem an% olitics in In%ia India $oasts of running the largest democracy successfully for o%er 0/ years. !o# the time has come to re%isit the facts and analy@e one of the key areas #here #e ha%e failed to achie%e #hat #as intended. Indian political arena has undergone radical changes from the moment #e ha%e attained freedom from the shackles of the -ritish. Politics in India #hich #ere supposed to $e free from discrimination and e=ploitation, ha%e taken a turn around the moment po#er has $een handed o%er to these fraudulent politicians. aste $ased political parties ha%e emerged #ith a %icious intention of cashing on %ote $ank of the most commanding class in terms of num$er. aste $ased political parties ha%e initiated a $rutal process of concentrating on the large %ote $ank of a particular caste. >ahatma Gandhi and -. +. m$edkar had radically different approaches to caste especially o%er constitutional politics and the status of Muntoucha$lesM. 0 (ill the mid; 13/s, the politics of independent India #as largely dominated $y economic issues and 'uestions of corruption. -ut since 137/s, caste has emerged as a ma8or issue. ccording to a report $y uman +ights Hatch, MDalits and indigenous peoples Jkno#n as Scheduled (ri$es or adi%asis continue to face discrimination, e=clusion, and acts of communal %iolence. "a#s and policies adopted $y the Indian go%ernment pro%ide a strong $asis for protection, $ut are not $eing faithfully implemented $y local authorities.M (hough Indian !ational ongress succeeded in keeping all the sections of the community under its um$rella for a couple of decades, $y early /s caste $ased politics ha%e sprung to life. From then on #e ha%e seen a %ital change in the #ay the political parties approached the Indian %oter. particular section of the society #hen depri%ed of the 6
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Caste System and Social Stratifcation in India progress and go%ernment aid, are left #ith not much choice other than to choose a candidate from their lot #ho can raise their issues at the national le%el. I should say most of the political parties during 7/s and 3/s succeeded in representing their section and decipher their tri$ulations. lmost all the sections considered to $e $ack#ard ha%e succeeded in dra#ing the attention of the ruling party to unra%el their concerns. (his is truly a positi%e sign to the political arena. -ut #ith time political parties got side tracked from their actual motto and started to indulge themsel%es in cheap political tricks. !o# the political situation in the country is %ery grim. If #e analy@e the manifestos of political parties in )//3 general elections, the agenda re%ol%ed around #ooing the %arious sections of the society. "ooks like this general election ha%e #itnessed more num$er of caste $ased political parties than the pre%ious ones. He ha%e also #itnessed political leaders making inflammatory statements in open meetings. (he election commission has succeeded in arresting the political parties from crossing limits to some e=tent $ut it could not #ipe them out completely. aste $ased politics are surely a negati%e phenomenon to the Indian political arena. Political parties and leaders should understand that caste $ased politics might act as a hindrance to the nations de%elopment. Criticism
-ack in 135/s, -. +. m$edkar had critici@ed the use of caste as a political plank . e anticipated the limitations of using caste as a political resource and instead, emphasi@ed on eliminating the concept of caste from the society.7
Caste S&stem an% Social Strati'ication Stratification is a hierarchy of positions #ith regard to economic production #hich influences the social re#ards to those in the positions. Primiti%e communalism characteri@ed $y a high degree of sharing and minimal social ine'uality. In sociology and other social sciences, social strati'ication refers to the hierarchical arrangement of indi%iduals into di%isions of po#er and #ealth #ithin a society. !tratification deri%es 7
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Caste System and Social Stratifcation in India from the geological concept of strata ; rock layers created $y natural processes. (he term most commonly relates to the socio;economic concept of class, in%ol%ing the Mclassification of persons into groups $ased on shared socio;economic conditions ... a relational set of ine'ualities #ith economic, social, political and ideological dimensions.M In modern Hestern societies, stratification is $roadly organi@ed into three main layers6 upper class, middle class, and lo#er class. a= He$er , social class pertaining $roadly to material #ealth is distinguished from status class #hich is $ased on such %aria$les as honor, prestige and religious affiliation. It is de$ata$le #hether the earliest hunter;gatherer groups may $e defined as stratified, or if such differentials $egan #ith agriculture and $road acts of e=change $et#een groups. ne of the ongoing issues in determining social stratification arises from the point that status ine'ualities $et#een indi%iduals are common, so it $ecomes a 'uantitati%e issue to determine ho# much ine'uality 'ualifies as stratification. penness is the opportunity for indi%iduals to change their status. aste stratification systems are closed #hereas class stratification systems are more open. (he degree of e'uality is the degree to #hich the social structure approaches an e'ual distri$ution of resources. unting and gathering societies are typically %ery e'ual #ith ine'uality de%eloping in later stages of agriculture and industriali@ation. (he concept of social stratification is interpreted differently $y the %arious theoretical perspecti%es of sociology. Proponents of structural;functionalism ha%e suggested that since social stratification is commonly found in de%eloped societies, hierarchy may $e necessary in order to sta$ili@e social structure. (alcott Parsons, an merican sociologist, asserted that sta$ility and social order are achie%ed $y means of a uni%ersal %alue consensus, satisfying the functional prere'uisites of a society. -y contrast, conflict theories, such as >ar=ism, point to the inaccessi$ility of resources and lack of social mo$ility found in stratified societies. >any sociological theorists ha%e critici@ed the e=tent to #hich the #orking classes are unlikely to ad%ance socioeconomically? the
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Caste System and Social Stratifcation in India #ealthy tend to hold political po#er #hich they use to e=ploit the proletariat intergenerationally. (heorists such as +alf Dahrendorf , ho#e%er, ha%e noted the tendency to#ard an enlarged middle;class in modern Hestern societies due to the necessity of an educated #orkforce in technological and ser%ice economies.3 Barious social and political perspecti%es concerning glo$ali@ation, such as dependency theory, suggest that these effects are due to the shift of #orkers to the third #orld.
3h& strati'ication e4ists !atural ine%ita$ility #hich suggests that ine'uality e=ists $ecause of natural differences in peoples a$ilities and is a 8ust system. Structural ;functionalist #hich states that stratification is useful to society $ecause it enhances sta$ility and induces mem$ers of the society to #ork hard. onflict #hich suggests that stratification occurs through conflict $et#een different classes, #ith the upper classes using superior po#er to take a larger share of the social resources. <%olutionary #hich states that people #ill share enough resources to ensure the sur%i%al of the group until a surplus e=ists at #hich time po#er determines ho# the surplus is distri$uted. Sym$olic Interactionist #hich calls attention to the importance of sym$olic displays of #ealth and po#er that influence ones definition of self and the importance of ideas in defining social situations. Ine'uality may emanate from natural differences in peoples a$ilities. Hhat are the functionalist and conflict theories as to the reasons for stratificationQ Structural;functionalists $elie%e that societies tend to $e sta$le and are held together through consensus. Stratification pro%ides an important function to society $y aiding this process $ecause it lessens conflict and pro%ides structure. onflict theorists $elie%e that society tends to#ard conflict and change and that stratification system coerce the lo#er classes in order to $enefit the upper classes. CC"1SI
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timesofindia.indiatimes.com:...:searchQ...N)/casteN)/andN)/politicsN)/inN)/india, "ast updated on
)/ septem$er,)/1/
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Caste System and Social Stratifcation in India I am of the opinion that the caste system in induism has $een unduly highlighted $y the media and state that one #ay to discredit any system is to highlight its e=cesses, and this only adds to the sense of inferiority that many Indians feel a$out their o#n culture. aste system is often portrayed as the ultimate horror, in the media? ho#e%er, there is no organi@ed discrimination in other societies as induism has in its society. (he slight $right hope is that the discrimination has slightly reduced no# #hile untoucha$ility has $een drastically reduced if not fully eliminated and raises its ugly head in some form or other. (he Indian Go%ernment has catered for %arious reser%ations in Go%ernment 8o$s, educational Institutions, Professional colleges such as medicine,
(hus it is seen that caste system although #as not sanctioned $y Bedas made inroads into the society and got entrenched. Hith Go%ernment policies, further irrepara$le damage has $een done to the society and it #ould $e impossi$le to eradicate the e%il. Bested interests ha%e de%eloped due to %arious reser%ations #here merit is thro#n to #inds. (hus aste system is going to stay permanently in India and all slogans denouncing the system is a pure and mere eye #ash. lthough aste system is out#ardly sho#n as the $iggest %illain in Indian social and political scene, it is encouraged more and more at e%ery le%el and is $eing institutionali@ed, regulari@ed and $eing promoted. (here is no element of dou$t that induism has to li%e $y this system out#ardly called e%il and internally is $eing strongly promoted $y %irtue of %ested interests. lthough caste #as not originally intended to $e ac'uired $y $irth, it has $ecome hereditary in character and indu society has to reconcile to it. (he society is facing serious challenges and conflicts on account of this system, yet people ha%e to li%e $y the system. In the meantime, Indian society is slo#ly inching to#ards caste #ar that could pro%e catastrophic to the Indian nation and also could lead to its o#n destruction. If at all India
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Caste System and Social Stratifcation in India is to $e destroyed, it #ill not $e out of any enemy action, and it #ould $e out of the caste #ar that could spell doom to the nation perpetuated $y its o#n selfish leaders.1/
BIB%IO'R$P)& BOOS RE#ERRED Atal, "ogesh, J)//3 hanging Indian Society, +a#at Pu$lication, Caipur. #eteille Andre, J)// aste lass nd Po#er,Second cgra# ill
1EBSITES RE#ERRED 1. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste_politics_in_India 2. india_resource.tripod.com/social.tm !. te"iewspaper.net/caste#$ased#politics/ %. timeso&ndia.indiatimes.com/.../searc'...(2)caste(2)and (2)politics(2)in(2)india 10
###.sociologyguide.com:'uestions:social;stratification.php, "ast updated on )5 septem$er,)/1/
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Caste System and Social Stratifcation in India *. www.glo$alpost.com/dispatc/india/.../caste#s+stem#india#politics ,. www.indianet-one.com e0erence istor+ o0 India . www.lotussculpture.com/$ron-e_sculpture_caste.tm 3. www.sociolog+guide.com/4uestions/social#strati&cation.pp 5. www.soutasianmedia.net/6aga-ine/.../castepolitics_india.tm 1). www.wisegeek.com/wat#is#a#caste#s+stem.tm
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