Features of Caste System | Sociology Optional for UPSC (Notes) PDF Download

Introduction

The caste system is a fundamental aspect of Indian society, deeply rooted in historical and cultural contexts. It categorizes people into different groups based on their social roles, occupations, and rituals. Here's an elaboration on the key features of the caste system:

Hierarchical Division of Society

• The caste system introduces a hierarchical structure within society, dividing it into four main classes: Brahmins (priests and scholars), Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers), Vaishyas (merchants and landowners), and Shudras (laborers and service providers).
• Each of these major groups is further subdivided into numerous smaller groups, known as jatis, which are ranked based on their perceived ritual purity and social status.
• For instance, there are approximately 2500 jatis in modern India, with each linguistic region having around 200 caste groups that are further divided into about 3000 smaller units.

Division of Labor

• The caste system is associated with a division of labor, where each caste is traditionally linked to a specific occupation.
• Ghurye noted that even though many castes may have shifted from their original occupations, the concept of division of labor remained integral to the caste system.
• However, scholars like Deepankar Gupta criticize this view, arguing that the division of labor was not a natural outcome of different skills but was imposed by powerful groups in society.

Hereditary

• Caste membership is hereditary, meaning individuals are born into their caste, and their social status is determined by birth.
• Each caste traditionally follows a specific occupation, and members are expected to adhere to this occupation throughout their lives.

Endogamy

• Endogamy is a key feature of the caste system, where marriages are restricted to within the same caste.
• This practice is enforced through rules and regulations that govern marriage within each caste.
• While endogamy is strictly maintained,gotra exogamy is also observed, where marriages are prohibited within the same gotra (a lineage or clan).
• Some researchers believe that caste endogamy became prominent during the Gupta period around the 5th century AD.

Unique Culture

• Each caste has its own distinct culture, traditions, and customs, which set it apart from other castes.
• Ghurye describes castes as small, self-contained social worlds with their own behavioral patterns, food habits, and rituals.
• For example, in Bengal, upper castes are referred to as Bhadralok (gentlemen), while lower castes are called chotolok (lower people). Similarly, in Gujarat, distinctions are made based on skin color, with terms like brown and black people used to describe different social groups.

Closed Group

• The combination of endogamy, unique culture, and heredity makes each caste a closed group.
• Individuals cannot enter a caste except by birth, reinforcing the closed nature of these social units.
• Srinivas discusses the process of Sanskritisation, where lower castes or communities attempt to elevate their status by adopting the rituals and practices of higher castes.

Organization

• Each caste has its own organizational structure known as caste panchayat, which establishes rules and regulations for its members.
• The caste panchayat functions as a judicial system, resolving internal disputes and conflicts within the caste.
• Socially, each caste group operates as an autonomous body with its own judiciary, executive, and financial powers, which it exercises for the welfare of the caste as a whole.

Rights and Privileges

• Rights and privileges vary among castes, with Brahmins generally enjoying the most privileged position.
• Brahmins often hold dominant roles in social, political, and economic spheres, exercising extensive rights over members of other castes.
• As one descends the caste hierarchy, the rights and privileges typically diminish.

Caste and Migration

• Caste is a significant factor influencing migration patterns in India. The caste system, a key aspect of social stratification, is a closed, endogamous social group with a hierarchically arranged and ascribed social position. The patterns of landownership and the distribution of occupational and educational opportunities are closely linked to caste groupings. This results in different caste groups having varying degrees of access to economic, social, and cultural resources.
• The caste system, with its normative order, differentiates various segments within and between castes. While it hampers spatial mobility due to its rigid rules and strict adherence, it also drives migration by creating a social basis for economic inequality and conflict. The caste system leads to differential values assigned to different castes, discrimination, tensions, and resource distribution based on caste. These factors contribute to caste-based migration.
• Studies have shown that caste affects migration differently for various caste groups, influencing their perceptions and motives for migration based on socio-economic inequalities. There is a coexistence of social caste and economic class inequalities, leading to both caste and class selectivity in migration. Research, such as Kothari's study in Rajasthan and Yadav's research on rural-urban migration, suggests that the propensity to migrate is high among both upper and lower caste groups.
• The relationship between caste and migration is complex, and the evidence available is not conclusive. Although the traditional caste system is evolving, caste continues to exist as an ethnic unit, impacting various aspects of life.

Changes in the Caste System

Contrary to disintegration or weakening, the caste system in India has undergone transformation due to modernization, democracy, industrialization, urbanization, nation-building, and migration.
Some notable changes include:

• Weakening of Ritual Aspects: The religious components of caste have diminished, with the signs and symbols associated with the caste system becoming less visible.
• Shift in Hierarchy: The legal framework prohibits the declaration of caste superiority or inferiority. Empirical studies indicate that upper backward castes have emerged as dominant groups in various regions.
• Changes in Occupational Division: The traditional division of labor based on caste has diminished. Upper castes have diversified into various occupations, and Dalits have also changed their traditional roles. However, some division of labor persists among Dalits.
• Decline of Untouchability: While awareness against untouchability has increased, caste-based atrocities, such as honor killings, continue to occur. Inter-caste marriages face less resistance, and self-choice marriages are becoming more common, although empirical data supporting this claim is limited.
• Politicization of Caste: Caste has evolved into a political identity, with caste groups organizing to pursue economic and social interests. This politicization has democratized the caste system, as argued by Rajni Kothari.

Transition from Caste System to Caste Identity

There is a consensus among sociologists that caste has shifted from being a hierarchical system to a form of identity. This transformation indicates that caste is no longer viewed as a rigid structure with some castes at the top and others at the bottom, as suggested by G.S. Ghurye and Louis Dumont.
Previously, caste was seen as a system characterized by:

• Integration of castes with a hierarchical structure.
• Occupational divisions that were complementary.
• Unequal distributions of privileges.
• Reciprocal relationships among castes.
• Mutual dependence among castes.

In contrast, the current understanding is that caste functions as a unit with each group conscious of its own identity and importance. This shift has not weakened caste but has made it a basis for social interactions, marriages, politics, and political mobilization.

While caste is still significant, class has become more important in state policies, economic decisions, and budget preparations. In the future, caste will continue to exist as a support system and a means of political mobilization, although its forms may change.