Consider the following statements regarding Gupta age:1. During the Gu...
Statement 1 is correct: The castes proliferated into numerous sub-castes as a result of two factors. A large number of foreigners had been assimilated into Indian society, and each group of foreigners was considered a kind of caste.
Statement 2 is correct: As the foreigners largely came as conquerors, they were given the status of kshatriya in society. The Hunas, who came to India towards the close of the fifth century, eventually came to be recognized as one of the thirty-six clans of the Rajput’s. Even now some Rajput’s bear the title Hun. The other reason for the increase in the number of castes was the absorption of many tribal people into Brahmanical society through the process of land grants. The tribal chiefs were assigned a respectable origin, but most of their ordinary kinsmen were assigned a low origin, and every tribe became a kind of caste in its new incarnation. This process continued in some ways up to the present.
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Consider the following statements regarding Gupta age:1. During the Gu...
During the Gupta age, the caste system in India underwent significant changes. The statements given above are correct and can be explained as follows:
1. Proliferation of Sub-castes:
During the Gupta period, the caste system became more complex, with the proliferation of numerous sub-castes. The Varna system, which classified society into four main varnas or social classes (Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras), further fragmented into various sub-castes. This fragmentation was due to various factors such as regional variations, occupational specialization, intermarriage, and social mobility. The hierarchical nature of the caste system allowed for the emergence of new sub-castes within each varna, further dividing society into smaller groups.
2. Absorption of Tribal People:
One of the reasons for the increase in the number of castes during the Gupta period was the absorption of many tribal people into Brahmanical society through the process of land grants. The Gupta rulers, like their predecessors, followed a policy of granting land to Brahmins and other religious institutions. As a result, many tribal communities were assimilated into the caste system by becoming part of the Brahmanical society. These tribal groups were given land grants and were expected to adopt the customs, rituals, and social norms of the Brahmins. This process of assimilation led to the expansion of the caste system and the emergence of new castes.
The Gupta period was characterized by a fluid social structure, where social mobility was possible to some extent. The absorption of tribal people into the Brahmanical society through land grants contributed to the growth of the caste system and the formation of new castes. The proliferation of sub-castes within each varna further complicated the social structure during this period.
In conclusion, both statements are correct. The Gupta period witnessed the proliferation of sub-castes, and one of the reasons for this increase was the absorption of tribal people into the Brahmanical society through land grants. These developments contributed to the complexity and expansion of the caste system during the Gupta age.
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