Professional Documents
Culture Documents
What is Caste?
Caste come from
Latin word Castus pure
Portuguese word Casta inherited status
Caste as a System
Caste is ubiquitous
Caste as the most general form of organization
Varying degrees of respectability
Circles of social interrelations
Western Social Structure Class
Caste rigid, immobile, non-flexible system of
stratification
Class flexible, free mobility and freedom of
choice
Any attempt to define caste is bound to fail
because of its complexity
Difference + Equality
Difference + Inequality
Basic characteristics of Caste system
in India
Commensality
Marriage and Divorce
Customs and Traditions
Jajmani System (rules related to profession)
(2) Hierarchy
Hierarchy is based on the principles of
purity and pollution
Hierarchy of groups
Brahmins at top an untouchables at
the bottom
Difference, social ranking and
Inequality
Functional stratification of society
Louis Dumont: Homo Hierarchicus
Homo Equalis
Khap Panchayats