Caste:-

Caste (Anglicized form of Casta), or Jāti, is a form of social stratification characterized

by endogamy, hereditary transmission of a style of life which often includes an
occupation, ritual status in a hierarchy, and customary social interaction and exclusion
based on cultural notions of purity and pollution.

The caste system is one of the unique features in Indian Society. Its root can be traced back to
thousands of years.

Jana → Jati → Caste

The word caste derives from the Spanish and Portuguese “casta”, means “race, lineage, or
breed”. Portuguese employed casta in the modern sense when they applied it to hereditary
Indian social groups called as ‘jati’ in India. ‘Jati’ originates from the root word ‘Jana’ which
implies taking birth. Thus, caste is concerned with birth.

According to Anderson and Parker, “Caste is that extreme form of social class organization in
which the position of individuals in the status hierarchy is determined by descent and birth.”

How did Caste System originate in India: Various

Theories

There are many theories like traditional, racial, political, occupational, evolutionary etc which try
to explain the caste system in India.

1.Traditional Theory
According to this theory, the caste system is of divine origin. It says the caste system is an
extension of the varna system, where the 4 varnas originated from the body of Bramha.

At the top of the hierarchy were the Brahmins who were mainly teachers and intellectuals and
came from Brahma’s head. Kshatriyas, or the warriors and rulers, came from his arms.
Vaishyas, or the traders, were created from his thighs. At the bottom were the Shudras, who
came from Brahma’s feet. The mouth signifies its use for preaching, learning etc, the arms –
protections, thighs – to cultivate or business, feet – helps the whole body, so the duty of the
Shudras is to serve all the others. The sub-castes emerged later due to intermarriages between
the 4 varnas.

The proponents of this theory cite Purushasukta of Rigveda, Manusmriti etc to support their
stand.
2. Racial Theory
The Sanskrit word for caste is varna which means colour. The caste stratification of the Indian
society had its origin in the chaturvarna system – Brahmins, Kashtriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras.
Indian sociologist D.N. Majumdar writes in his book, “Races and Culture in India”, the caste
system took its birth after the arrival of Aryans in India.

Rig Vedic literature stresses very significantly the differences between the Arya and non-Aryans
(Dasa), not only in their complexion but also in their speech, religious practices, and physical
features.

The Varna system prevalent during the Vedic period was mainly based on division of labour and
occupation. The three classes, Brahma, Kshatra and Vis are frequently mentioned in the Rig
Veda. Brahma and Kshatra represented the poet-priest and the warrior-chief. Vis comprised all
the common people. The name of the fourth class, the ‘Sudra’, occurs only once in the Rig
Veda. The Sudra class represented domestic servants.

3. Political Theory
According to this theory, the caste system is a clever device invented by the Brahmins in order
to place themselves on the highest ladder of social hierarchy.

Dr. Ghurye states, “Caste is a Brahminic child of Indo-Aryan culture cradled in the land of the
Ganges and then transferred to other parts of India.”

The Brahmins even added the concept of spiritual merit of the king, through the priest or purohit
in order to get the support of the ruler of the land.

4. Occupational Theory
Caste hierarchy is according to the occupation. Those professions which were regarded as
better and respectable made the persons who performed them superior to those who were
engaged in dirty professions.

According to Newfield, “Function and function alone is responsible for the origin of caste
structure in India.” With functional differentiation there came in occupational differentiation and
numerous sub-castes such as Lohar(blacksmith), Chamar(tanner), Teli(oil-pressers).

5. Evolution Theory
According to this theory, the caste system did not come into existence all of a sudden or at a
particular date. It is the result of a long process of social evolution.

 Hereditary occupations;
 The desire of the Brahmins to keep themselves pure;
 The lack of rigid unitary control of the state;
 The unwillingness of rulers to enforce a uniform standard of law and custom
 The ‘Karma’ and ‘Dharma’ doctrines also explain the origin of caste system. Whereas the
Karma doctrine holds the view that a man is born in a particular caste because of the result
of his action in the previous incarnation, the doctrine of Dharma explains that a man who
accepts the caste system and the principles of the caste to which he belongs, is living
according to Dharma. Confirmation to one’s own dharma also remits on one’s birth in the
rich high caste and violation gives a birth in a lower and poor caste.
 Ideas of exclusive family, ancestor worship, and the sacramental meal;
 Clash of antagonistic cultures particularly of the patriarchal and the matriarchal systems;
 Clash of races, colour prejudices and conquest;
 Deliberate economic and administrative policies followed by various conquerors
 Geographical isolation of the Indian peninsula;
 Foreign invasions;
 Rural social structure.

Principal features of caste system in India

1. Segmental Division of Society: The society is divided into various small social groups
called castes. Each of these castes is a well developed social group, the membership of
which is determined by the consideration of birth.
2. Hierarchy: According to Louis Dumont, castes teach us a fundamental social principle of
hierarchy. At the top of this hierarchy is the Brahmin caste and at the bottom is the
untouchable caste. In between are the intermediate castes, the relative positions of which
are not always clear.
3. Endogamy: Endogamy is the chief characteristic of caste, i.e. the members of a caste or
sub-caste should marry within their own caste or sub-caste. The violation of the rule of
endogamy would mean ostracism and loss of caste. However, hypergamy (the practice of
women marrying someone who is wealthier or of higher caste or social status.) and
hypogamy (marriage with a person of lower social status) were also prevalent. Gotra
exogamy is also maintained in each caste. Every caste is subdivided into different small
units on the basis of gotra. The members of one gotra are believed to be successors of a
common ancestor-hence prohibition of marriage within the same gotra.
4. Hereditary status and occupation: Megasthenes, the Greek traveller to India in 300 B.
C., mentions hereditary occupation as one of the two features of caste system, the other
being endogamy.
5. Restriction on Food and Drink: Usually a caste would not accept cooked food from any
other caste that stands lower than itself in the social scale, due to the notion of getting
polluted. There were also variously associated taboos related to food. The cooking taboo,
which defines the persons who may cook the food. The eating taboo which may lay down
the ritual to be followed at meals. The commensal taboo which is concerned with the
person with whom one may take food. Finally, the taboo which has to do with the nature of
the vessel (whether made of earth, copper or brass) that one may use for drinking or
cooking. For eg: In North India Brahmin would accept pakka food (cooked in ghee) only
from some castes lower than his own. However, no individual would accept
kachcha(cooked in water) food prepared by an inferior caste. Food prepared by Brahmin is
acceptable to all, the reason for which domination of Brahmins in the hotel industry for a
long time. The beef was not allowed by any castes, except harijans.
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 claimed to have ritual, spiritual
and racial purity which they maintained by keeping the lower castes away through the
notion of pollution. The idea of pollution means a touch of lower caste man would pollute or
defile a man of higher caste. Even his shadow is considered enough to pollute a higher
caste man.
8. Jati Panchayat: The status of each caste is carefully protected, not only by caste laws but
also by the conventions. These are openly enforced by the community through a governing
body or board called Jati Panchayat. These Panchayats in different regions and castes are
named in a particular fashion such as Kuldriya in Madhya Pradesh and Jokhila in South
Rajasthan.

Class System
The class system is a system of stratification of society on the basis of education,

property, business/work etc. Sociology as a subject deals with the Class System

Karl Max - 'Man is a class animal' i.e. his status age, education etc are not same in the

society.

Common Basis For Division Of Class

 Property – capitalist & the poor – the haves & the have nots.

 Education - Illiterate & literate

 Business or Occupation - farmers, clerk officers, industrialists etc.

In general, class consciousness is a must in the class system. There must be the we feeling. The charade

of in group given by Summer is found in the class system – I belong? Identifying oneself in a particular

group or family is the key. The behavior of a person is fixed due to their class consciousness. Trade union

is a result of class consciousness. These is feeling of superiority & inferiority in class syst. The higher has

the feeling superiority & the lower class feels inferior. In these classes too there is sub classes as Upper

Open class, middle upper class, lower upper class; lower middle class, middle class; upper lower class,

middle lower class, to lower2 class. Class system is open in character. Because it is based on a variety of
 things like age, sex etc. Also one can change one's less easily. The people of lower class may enter the

upper class & those of the upper class may become members of the lower class.

Definition Of Class System

Following are some of the class system definitions as per sociologists.

P.Gisbert - "A social class is a category or group of persons having a definite status in society which

permanently determines their relation to other group – feeling of superiority & inferiorities. The relative

position of the class in the social scale arises from the degree of prestige attached to the status.

Mac Iver & Page - "A social class is any portion of community marked off the from the rest by social

status 'Ongburn & Nimk off. A social class is the aggregate of persons having essentially the same social

status in a given society." i.e. a class consciousness.

Max weber – held that "classes are aggregate of individuals who have the same opportunities of

acquiring goods. The same exhibited standard of lining.

Hoebal defines "A social class is a group within a society, whose members hold a no. of distinctive status

in common & who trough the operation of roles associated with these status, develop are awareness of

the life interest as against the unlike trait & interest of other groups."

In general "A social class consists of group of individuals who are ranked by the members of the

community in socially superior inferior position."

Characteristics of Class System:

1. Class system is based on occupation, wealth, education, age and sex.

2. Hierarchy of status group. In general there are 3 class – upper middle & tower. Status, prestige & role

is attached. Upper class are less in no in comparison to the other two whereas their status & prestige is

most. This is like a pyramid. Karl max (Rich & poor) preliterate &

3. Feeling of superiority & inferiority. In these 3 classes there are such feelings the upper class people feel

they are superior to the other two whereas the lower class feels it is inferior to the upper class.

4. Class consciousness – wherever a class is formed this feeling a consciousness is a must. There should

be feeling of in group i.e. I belong class conflict is due to this the people of the preliterate class feel the

upper class exploits them their they unite revolt. The behavior action is determined by this class

consciousness.

5. Sub-classes, class is divided into different groups. Similar to caste system, the class system is divided.

6. Class system is an open system.

7. There's social restriction in this too. In general there is endogamy in a class. To maintain their status &

position they mix among themselves & it is seldom that marriage between upper & lower class is

wished. Distinction between Caste & class. They are the two phenomena of social stratification

(Stratification is division of society on the basis of birth).

Difference between Class and Caste system

S.No. Caste Class

1. Based on birth Birth, education, wealth etc.

2. In general there are 3000 castes & Whereas class has subclasses (based

sub-castes in India. on different things)

3. Caste is a closed group Whereas Class is an open system

4. Even Sanskritisation is unable to Whereas class can be changed quiet

change caste easily.

5. Caste is hereditary
6. Caste is a closed class. A child of But there is no such thing in class.

Brahmin will always be a Brahmin.

7. Status is inborn and ascribed in Whereas in class system, it is acquired

Caste System. & achieved.