VisionIAS - Video Classroom Lecture

Sociology Optional Class 02

CASTE SYSTEM:

Caste versus Caste system.
Features of the Caste system-
(Jajmani system, endogamy (anuloma marriage, pratiloma), varna versus jati (gotra)).
Approaches-
Attributional and Interactional Approach- perspectives of Caste system- Theories of origin of Caste.
Transformation of Caste system-
Caste versus Class.
Role of Caste in Politics.
Caste mobility.
Untouchability-
Forms.
Perspectives.
Contemporary reality.
Caste System- Caste among non-Hindu.
Caste outside India.

CASTE VERSUS CASTE SYSTEM (05:20 PM)

Caste System is a system of social stratification consisting of hierarchically arranged closed endogamous strata where membership is ascriptive, contact is restricted, and mobility is theoretically impossible.
Caste-
Endogamous group.
Specific occupation.
Hereditary membership.
Rules governing feeding patterns and social engagements.
* Caste fits Webers concept of status group because-
Each caste has a distinct social status in the hierarchy.
It practices endogamy to preserve the status.
It enforces distinct lifestyle rules (diet, dress, occupation).
Caste system-
Refers to a framework of social stratification that governs how different castes will interact with each other in the ritual and secular sphere.
The origin of the word Caste is from a Portuguese word Casta which means lineage.
The word Casta is borrowed from the Latin word Castus, which means pure.
That is Purity of lineage.
There is no unanimous definition of caste.
Different scholars have different perspectives-

Scholar	Perspective
Andre Beteille	Caste is a social group with hereditary membership, endogamy, and a specific way of life.
Dr B.R Ambedkar	Caste is a system of graded inequality where castes are arranged hierarchically based on social and religious status.
C H Cooley	When class becomes strictly hereditary, it can be called a caste.

FEATURES OF CASTE SYSTEM (05:42 PM)

Social Segmentation.
Occupational DoL.
Commensality.
Hierarchy.
Endogamy.
Ascriptive.
Civil and Religious disabilitties.
Caste Councils/ Panchayats.
Ascriptive-
The caste of an individual is determined at birth.
According to GS Ghurye, caste status is ascriptive and fixed for life.
According to Louis Dumont, an individual`s caste is inherited and immutable.
For example, Dr. BR Ambedkar, despite being educated, faced untouchability and discrimination.
Endogamy-
In order to maintain the purity of lineage, marriage outside the caste is restricted.
According to Louis Dumont, endogamy reinforces the purity pollution hierarchy.
Endogamy-
Anuloma (hypergamy)- UC (Man) +LC (Woman).
According to Ghurye, it finds mention in ancient text but is only tolerated and not considered ideal.
Pratiloma (hypogamy)- UC (Woman) +LC (Man).
According to Dumont, it threatens the purity-pollution hierarchy, for example, honour killing.
Hierarchy-
Castes are ranked in a hierarchical order, with Brahimins constituting the top strata.
According to Louis Dumont, hierarchy is the core principle of the caste system, with ritual purity determining rank.
Similarly, Dr BR Ambedkar`s caste hierarchy is not only social but also religious.
For example, in 2022, in Rajasthans Jalor district, a Dalit boy was beaten to death for drinking water from an upper caste pot.
Occupational DoL (06:06 PM)
Each caste is traditionally linked with a specific occupation.
According to Ghurye, there exist occupational hereditary.
According to MN Srinivas, occupational mobility has increased.
However, caste based occupational clustering still persists.
According to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, of 66696 manual scavengers, 97.25 % belong to the SC community.
Commensality-
There are strict rules to regulate inter caste interaction.
According to Louis Dumont, purity- pollution dichotomy governs caste relations
For example, serving food and water in separate utensils (Satish Deshpande).
Separate school sitting arrangement in school mid day meal.
Social segmentation-
Caste operates like closed groups with strong group loyalty.
Ghurye- The caste system is defined as a segmented division of society, with each segment functioning autonomously.
According to André Beteille, they are closed status groups with clear boundaries, internal solidarity, and strong collective identity.
For example, the Patidar community in Gujarat has strong internal cohesion and mobilization for political reservations and economic benefits.
Caste Panchayats or Caste Councils-
According to Ghurye, caste panchayat acts as a local self-governing body ensuring endogamy, occupational purity, and internal dispute resolution
According to Rajni Kothari, caste panchayats act both as traditional and political institutions regulating social and political behaviour, for example, Khap Panchayat.
Civil and Religious disabilities-
According to Ghurye, lower caste suffers from multiple disabilities in both civil and religious sphere.
For example, denial of access to public wells, roads, and schools and restriction on wearing certain clothes and riding horses.
For example, exclusion from temple entry, participation in religious rituals, or denying reading or learning of ancient texts.

JAJMANI SYSTEM (06:44 PM)

Concept.
Features.
Perspective.
Disintegration.
Criticism.
Jajman- hereditary exchange of services- Kamin.
Services- Ritual, Personal, occupational.
Pay to kamin- grains, cloths, protection.
Traditional socio-economic arrangement that involved hereditary exchange of services.
It is a client- patron relationship.
Features of the Jajmani system-
Functional interchangeability-
Under this system, flexibility ensures continuity of the services even when a particular caste is absent.
For example, Madhopur village studies by Bernard Cohn show that traditional water carriers also performed sweeping duties.
According to Joan Menchel, caste based roles were not always rigid and were dependent on demography.
Temporal continuity-
Jajmani relations lasted across generations.
According to William Wiser, this continuity reduced competition and ensured economic security and social stability.
Role reversal possibility-
It allows some castes to be Jajmans in one relation and Kamins in another.
A study by FG Bailey in Bisipara village found a blacksmith who served brahmins but hired sweepers to clean his house.
Economic and Ritual Integration-
According to Louis Dumont, the jajmani system is an economic manifestation of ritual hierarchy where ritual purity and pollution dictate service relations.
That is, certain tasks were reserved for ritualy impure castes.
Re-distributive exchange system-
According to Louis Dumont, it constitutes a redistributive economy.
For example, the wealth, grains, and resources accumulated by Jajmans were redistributed to Kamins through gifts, rewards, payment in kind, etc.
Caste specific occupational rigidity-
According to GS Ghurye, this hereditary DoL (division of labor) ensures both economic stability and ritual order.
Moral and social obligation-
Jajmans were expected to provide protection during conflicts, medical help during illness, gifts and special payments during marriage, funeral, festival, etc (Pauline Kolenda).
Gendered aspect of Jajmani-
According to Leela Dube, women kamins faced double exploitation as labourers and women within patriarchal households.
(Midwifery performed by Dalit women was part of the jajmani package).

PERSPECTIVES (07:25 PM)

Functional perspective-
According to William Wiser, the Jajmani system was mutually beneficial as each caste group was dependent on others for economic and ritual functions
He conducted a study of the washermen community in Karimpur village.
Observations-
Reciprocity and stability.
Economic security.
Social integration.
He was criticized for romatising mutual benefits.
Conflict perspective (Joan Mencher)
Conducted extensive field work in Tamil Nadu and introduced a bottoms-up approach.
That is, jajmani was not a system of reciprocal benefits but a system of economic exploitation and political control.
It was observed that Kamins were economically exploited, socially subordinate, and politically marginalized.
However, this viewpoint was criticised as it understated the agency of lower caste.
According to André Beteille, sometimes lower castes negotiated better terms.
According to Xaxa, many migrated to cities for better opportunities.
Question-
Critically evaluate the significance of the Jajmani system in traditional Indian society.

NEXT CLASS TOPIC: Continuation of Caste System.