Skip to content Skip to left sidebar Skip to right sidebar Skip to footer
Choose language:

Sociology

India’s system of caste Functions and Issues

According to G.S.Ghurye “Castes are small and complete social worlds in themselves marked off definitely from one another though subsisting within the larger society.”

According to A.W. Green, “Caste is a system of stratification in which mobility, movement up and down in the status ladder, at least ideally, may not occur.”

Functions of Caste:

1. It contributed to the preservation of blood purity since members of each caste are bound by endogamic rules when they marry. This may be the cause of the continued existence of the pure Aryan race in India.

2. Caste is based on the concept of birth, therefore anybody born into a certain caste instantly joins that caste and receives the social position that has historically been accorded to members of that caste. The person has a definite ascriptive status. As a result, caste provides the individual with psychological stability over his place in society.

3. Ensures social security: In addition to psychological security in the form of a stable social status, caste ensures a person’s social security from the time of his birth until the time of his death. It gives him a job, serves as a labor union, a benefit society, offers health insurance, and, if necessary, pays for his funeral..

4. Guides the individual’s behaviour: caste, like any other social institution, guides the behaviour of the individual by providing readymade behaviour patterns in matters like diet, ceremonial observances, rituals at birth, initiation, marriage, death etc.

5. Preserves culture: In order for a civilization to continue to exist as a separate social structure, it must be able to transmit its norms of behavior, knowledge, and ability from one generation to the next. Because trade secrets and caste norms are actively guarded and maintained by the occupational castes, the caste system is particularly well-suited for such a task as passing cultural patterns from one generation to the next with little alteration.

6. Integrates society: The caste system has been successful in integrating various national, racial, religious, and ethnic groups into a large, diversified community. They would have either been fully assimilated into Hindu society or would have remained as unadjusted and potentially disruptive components in society if it weren’t for the system’s assimilation of them into the community. The caste system is capable of integrating groups, whether they are racial, religious, national, or occupational, while still retaining their own characteristics and identities. Because of this, scholars like Furnival have called India “an outstanding example of a country” where “a plural society has proved stable.”

7. Promotes social stability: The caste system has also contributed to social stability. In her long and troubled history, it prevented Hindu society from being upended by the pressure of alien invasions, famines, and upheavals of every type. Because Hindu culture is firmly established on a caste structure, which endures despite conversion to Islam or Christianity, it has shown to be stable. Muslim castes like the Momin, Jolaha, Lakhhani, Gaddi, etc. are only a few examples.

8. Brings about political stability in society: The caste system served as a political stabilizer by ensuring that the Hindu population remained unaffected by major political changes and changes in society. S.C. Hill has stated in this regard that the caste system prescribed and dictated a form of social order that was fully independent of the type of political rule, and as a result, the cultural pattern was perpetuated despite the shifting political landscape. The lack of a desire for change on the side of the ruled was another factor contributing to political stability..

9. Acts as a tool for labor division: In Hindu society, the caste system has served as a particularly effective system of labor division. It contains provisions for every activity, from scavenging to schooling. But the system stands out because it is based on a religious tenet, namely the notion of karma, which enables people to tolerate the apparent inequitable distribution of labor. It is believed that a person’s current social standing and line of work are a direct result of his or her decisions made in a previous incarnation, and that if a person faithfully fulfills their caste obligations in this life, they will be in a better position in their next.

10. It fostered a cooperative spirit: Each caste’s members grow to have a sense of camaraderie within their own caste. They were encouraged to work closely together because they believed that any attempt by other castes to undermine their superiority or to degrade their customs, rituals, and traditions, among other things, would be fatal for the caste. In this way, the caste system fostered a sense of community and collaboration, which served as the foundation for the development and improvement of society.

11. Raised the standard of living: The caste system led to increased living standards for individuals of a given caste since members of various castes made enormous efforts to retain their superiority and place. This, in turn, increased each caste’s level of living, which greatly benefited society.

The caste system gave rise to the panchayat system, in which each caste had its own panchayat and which was responsible for resolving conflicts among its members. This mechanism evolved alongside the panchayat system throughout time and became incredibly reliable. The agrarian and rural nature of the panchayat system has led to its acceptance as the ideal system in India even now.

Dysfunctions of the caste system:

  1. Social progress is slowed down by the caste system because it makes it difficult to implement improvements in society. The caste system restricts a person’s freedom and forces him or her to follow the long-standing traditions of his or her caste. Even the smallest departure from them is dealt with harshly. Hindu society has been so systemically rigid that it is nearly immobile. It is not a place for innovation. Sherring is correct in saying that “caste makes no compromises, the most ignorant Hindu is able to compel the obedience of the most intelligent.”

2. Stifles economic development: The caste system operates as a roadblock to growth in that regard. The worker is denied the option to select a job he enjoys since in the caste system, jobs are decided by status rather than contract. This causes labor to be inflexible and ineffective, which causes economic backwardness.

3. Causes of political division: People are obligated to be more loyal to their caste than to any other group under the caste system. As a result, it encourages casteism among the populace rather than nationalism. The Indians were unable to unite against foreign invasions and build nationalism as a result. In fact, the Indians’ division and lack of patriotism prompted numerous outsiders to invade India.

4. Maintains social inequalities: The upper castes have used the caste system as a tool to uphold their own privileged position in society. It has resulted in the dictatorship of the upper castes and given individuals of lower castes enduring sentiments of inferiority and insecurity.

5. Places hardships on women: This system’s fifth flaw places hardships on women. According to the caste system, a caste that wants to advance in the caste hierarchy must adhere to specific norms that cause difficulty for women, such as child marriage, the ban on widow remarriages, and the seclusion of women.

6. Foster’s untouchability: The system effectively maintains a huge number of people as slaves. They are the unlucky untouchables, who are disabled in various ways. The caste system’s most repulsive expression is untouchability.

7. It was opposed to democracy: The caste system was against the spirit of democracy. Democracy assumes that all people are equal, but the caste system promoted inequality and had a hierarchy where the Brahmins were at the top and the Sudras were at the bottom.

Conclusion:

Every society has different classes. The statement that an “unstratified society, with a real equality of its members, is a myth, which has never been realized in the history of mankind,” is true. Although the shape and size may change, the essence never changes. The caste system, the joint family system, and the village community serve as the three pillars that support the Indian social structure. Due to its interconnectedness with the social, economic, and political systems, the caste system stands out as the most important aspect of Hindu society. Hindu society has even been referred to as the pinnacle of caste societies. A social stratification system based on birth that is exclusive to India and cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

Origin and Principles of Caste

The caste system of India has grown into one of the strictest and most defining social institutions in the entire world. Caste, which originally came from the Portuguese word for breed, is now defined by the Encyclopedia Of Social Sciences as “an endoganous and subdivision of ethnic group occupying a position of superior or inferior rank or social esteem in comparison with such other divisions.”

Caste is a highly positive concept. The strategy we wish to use is caste. What Not one in a million people truly understands what caste is. No council exists. in a caste-free society. Caste is founded on that throughout. principle. India’s strategy is to convert everyone to Brahmana, the The ideal of mankind is Brahmana. If you study Indian history You’ll discover that there have always been initiatives to elevate the lower classes. The number of classes raised is considerable. plenty more continue till everyone has attained Brahmana.

Religion and the Caste System

Hinduism has four castes that are arranged in a hierarchical fashion. Anyone who does not fit into one of these classes is an outsider. ‘Varna’ is the word for caste in the spiritual realm. Each Varna has particular responsibilities and rights. Each Varna member must work in a certain profession that is exclusively open to other Varna members. Every Varna adheres to a particular culinary trend. The highest Varna belongs to the Brahman. The educated population of the society includes priests and other members of this class.

Kshatria is the Varna that comes after them in the hierarchy. The aristocracy and societal leaders belong to this class. The Vaishya then pursues them. Landlords and well-known businesses attend this session. They are below a Sudra in the social order. This class is made up of the nation’s working class and peasantry. those members of society who work in a non-polluting capacity. Here, the caste system has been abolished. the outcasts, who are classes under these and are regarded as untouchable. These outcasts worked in undesirable jobs like waste management and cleaning.

The first three castes and the untouchables both had social and economic rights, but the Sudra did not. The first three castes are also said to be “twice born.” These two births are designed to be natural births and the formal entry into society at a much later age.
The untouchables and the first three castes enjoyed social and economic rights, while the Sudra did not. The first three castes are also said to be “twice born.” These two births are designed to be natural births and the formal entry into society at a much later age.

Principles of caste system

  1. Segmental Division of Society: Castes are a term for the different tiny social groups that make up society. Each of these castes is a sophisticated social organization whose membership is based on one’s place of birth..
  2. Hierarchy: Castes teach us a fundamental social concept of hierarchy, claims Louis Dumont. The Brahmin caste is at the apex of this structure, and the untouchable caste is at the bottom. The intermediate castes, whose relative positions are not always evident, are in the middle.
  3. Endogamy: The main characteristic of a caste is endogamy, or the requirement that members of a caste or sub-caste only ever marry other members of that caste or sub-caste. Endogamy violations will result in caste loss and social exclusion. However, hypogamy (marriage with a person of lower social rank) and hypergamy (the habit of women marrying someone who is wealthier or of higher caste or social status) were also common. Each caste maintains gotra exogamy as well. On the basis of gotra, every caste is divided into numerous minor divisions. Marriage is not permitted within a gotra since it is thought that all of its members are the descendants of a single ancestor.
  4. Hereditary status and occupation:Hereditary profession is one of the two characteristics of the caste system mentioned by the Greek traveler Megasthenes, who visited India in 300 B.C. The other feature is endogamy.
  5. Restriction on Food and Drink: A caste would often not accept prepared food from any other caste that is lower on the social scale than itself owing to the fear of becoming contaminated. Additionally, there were a number of linked taboos surrounding eating. The cooking taboo establishes who is allowed to prepare the food. The eating taboo may specify the mealtime routine to be followed. The common taboo that has to do with who one can share food with. The last taboo concerns the type of vessel that may be used for drinking or cooking, such as brass, copper, or earthenware. For instance, Brahmins in North India would only eat pakka (meal cooked with ghee) from castes that were lower than their own. However, no one would eat kachcha (meal cooked in water) that was made by a lower caste. The fact that food provided by Brahmins is palatable to everyone explains why they have long dominated the hotel industry. All castes except harijans forbade the consumption of beef.
  6. A Particular Name: Every caste has a particular name though which we can identify it. Sometimes, an occupation is also associated with a particular caste.
  7.  The Concept of Purity and Pollution: The higher castes maintained their purported ritual, spiritual, and racial purity by excluding the lower castes under the pretext of defilement. A touch from a lower caste man would contaminate or pollute a man from a higher caste, according to the concept of contamination. Even his shadow is thought to be sufficient to defile a man from a higher rank.
  8. Jati Panchayat: Both caste regulations and social traditions take great care to safeguard each caste’s status. Through the Jati Panchayat, the community’s governing body, these are openly enforced. These Panchayats are given specific names according to their locations and castes, as Kuldriya in Madhya Pradesh and Jokhila in South Rajasthan.