Caste System and Social Stratification in India

PROJECT ON

Caste System and Social Stratification in India

SUBMITTED TO – Dr. Uttam Kumar Panda

(FACULTY OF SOCIOLOGY)

SUBMITTED BY – RAJESH KUMAR

MISHRA
ROLL NO. – 56
SEMESTER – IiI

DATE OF SUBMISSION – 27-10-10

HIDAYATULLAH NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY,

RAIPUR

SOCIOLOGY Page 1
 Caste System and Social Stratification in India

Acknowledgements

First & foremost, I take this opportunity to thank Dr. Uttam Kumar Panda, Faculty,
Sociology, HNLU, for allotting me this challenging topic to work on. He has been very
kind in providing inputs for this work, by way of suggestions.

I would also like to thank my dear colleagues and friends in the University, who have
helped me with ideas about this work. Last, but not the least I thank the University
Administration for equipping the University with such good library and I.T. facilities,
without which, no doubt this work would not have taken this shape in correct time.

Rajesh Kumar Mishra

Semester-III, Batch-IX
Roll no-56

SOCIOLOGY Page 2
 Caste System and Social Stratification in India

ABBREVIATIONS USED

&……………………………………………………………........................................And
AIR……………………………………………………………………..All India Reporter
Art…………………………………………………………………………………..Article
OBC……………………………………………………………..Other Backward Classes
SC……………………………………………………………………..….Scheduled Caste
ST……………………………………………………………………...….Scheduled Tribe
US………………………………………………………………United States Of America

CONTENTs

1. Introduction……………………………………………………………………….....06

2. Caste as a system…………………….........................................................................07
SOCIOLOGY Page 3
 Caste System and Social Stratification in India

3. History of caste system in India ……………………………………………………..09

4. Relevance of caste system in India…………………………………………………..10

5. Provisions for backward castes in Indian Constitution…………………………..…..11

6. Caste system: An impediment to national growth…..……………………………….14

7. Caste system and Politics in India…………………………………………………...15

8. Caste System and Social Stratification………………………………………………17

9. Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………...19

10. Bibliography…………………………………………………………………………21

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

SOCIOLOGY Page 4
 Caste System and Social Stratification in India

This project work is descriptive & analytical in approach. It is largely based on secondary
& electronic sources of data. Books & other references as guided by faculty of sociology
are primarily helpful for the completion of this project.

Introduction

“I have no colour prejudices nor caste prejudices nor creed prejudices. All I care to know
is that a man is a human being, and that is enough for me; he can't be any worse.”1

1
www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-caste-system.htm, Last updated on 26september,2010

SOCIOLOGY Page 5
 Caste System and Social Stratification in India

Caste system hierarchically divides the society. A sense of highness and lowness or
superiority and inferiority is associated with this gradation or ranking. The Brahmins are
placed at the top of the hierarchy and are regarded as pure or supreme. The degraded
caste or the untouchables have occupied the other end of the hierarchy. The status of an
individual is determined by his birth and not by selection nor by accomplishments. Each
caste has its own customs, traditions practices and rituals. It has its own informal rules,
regulations and procedures.
The caste panchayats or the caste councils regulate the conduct of members. The caste
system has imposed certain restrictions on the food habitats of the members these differ
from caste to caste. In North India Brahmin would accept pakka food only from some
castes lower than his own. But he would not accept kachcha food prepared with the use
of water at the hands of no other caste except his own. As a matter of rule and practice no
individual would accept kachcha food prepared by an inferior casteman.
The caste system put restriction on the range of social relations also. 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. The lower caste people
suffered from certain socio-religious disabilities. The impure castes are made to live on
the outskirts of the city and they are not allowed to draw water from the public wells. In
earlier times entrance to temples and other places of religious importance were forbidden
to them. Educational facilities, legal rights and political representation were denied to
them for a very long time. If the lower castes suffer from certain disabilities some higher
caste like the Brahmins enjoys certain privileges like conducting prayers in the temples
etc.
There is gradation of occupations also. Some occupations are considered superior and
sacred while certain others degrading and inferior. For a long time occupations were very
much associated with the caste system. Each caste had its own specific occupations
which were almost hereditary. There was no scope for individual talent, aptitude,
enterprise or abilities. The caste system imposes restrictions on marriage also. Caste is an
endogamous group. Each caste is subdivided into certain sub castes which are again
endogamous. Inter-caste marriages are still looked down upon in the traditional Indian
society.

SOCIOLOGY Page 6
 Caste System and Social Stratification in India

Caste as a System
Caste system, as Berreman discusses the concept, is one that is composed of ranked
groups. Membership in a group is only through birth. The groups are exhaustive,
exclusive, and discrete; that is, every person is a member of such a group and of only
one; he is clearly recognized by others as a member of his separate group. Membership in
his group influences most of his separate group. Membership in his group influences
most of his roles and activities; there is a high degree of “role summation”. No one
should try to change his inherited membership and any attempts by individuals to shift
themselves to a higher group are strongly disapproved.
Relative ranks affect almost all social relations. Most interaction among people of
different groups involves considerations of superiority and inferiority, and superiority
means greater privileges, precedence and a larger share of the good things in life. Each
group is a firm entity, named, bounded self aware, culturally homogeneous. Because
interaction between people of different groups is limited and that within a group is more
intense, the members of a group tend to share distinctive cultural characteristics. A caste
system is therefore one of cultural pluralism.
The groups are interdependent; each needs the services or goods provided by others. But
they are held together less by agreement about mutual needs and purposes than by the
coercive power wielded by the superior groups. The inferior groups conform in their
actions, not necessarily in their ideas about the reasons for subservient behavior.
A general concomitant of such a system, Berreman notes, is that the higher groups
explain their superiority in terms of a moral evaluation that shows why they are
intrinsically more worthy. They take a paternalistic attitude towards the lower people,
considering them to be childlike, irresponsible, and incapable of finer feelings or higher
achievements. The lower do not share these views but adjust to the superior power by
avoiding conflict, by apathy and psychic withdrawal, or by over compliance. Other
concomitants are the restrictions on relations between people of different groups. Eating
and sitting together, marriage and sex relations are rigidly controlled or are forbidden.
The higher, privileged groups hold that the social order is static; the lower strive to
improve their status. Any system of marked stratification is itself a source of mobility
motivation as Veblen, Bendix and Lipset and others have noted. Such mobility striving is

SOCIOLOGY Page 7
 Caste System and Social Stratification in India

a constant dynamic force in a caste system. Berreman discerns a difference between India
and the U.S. South in that a lower group in India is usually more interested in achieving
superiority for the group rather than equality in the society, whereas Southern Negroes,
because the society of the deep South has two main divisions rather than multiple groups,
have objected to the system as well as to their position in it. In this way there is more
consensus about the proper nature of the social system in India than in the South, though
Berreman stresses that in neither place do the lower groups accept the concept of their
inferiority.2
The principal functions of a caste system are t perpetuate social and cultural diversities,
and to enforce and articulate them. These functions are highly dysfunctional in the
modern world, irrelevant to human welfare and sources of unnecessary conflict and
suffering.
The critics of such definitions of Caste system question whether the category is a useful
one. Certain groups, such as the lower ranking groups in Japan, do not fit readily into the
general definition. These critics point out, moreover, that specialization is essential in all
modern societies and leads to some degree of stratification and ranking. Social and
cultural diversities have to be articulated in all societies; each separate group tends to
seek some privileges and power for its members. These processes are inherent in a
complex society and, as processes, can scarcely be called dysfunctional. The trend in
most contemporary societies is certainly away from the inclusive, invidious distinctions
of caste divisions but also it is away from cultural pluralism and towards a cultural
conformity, which some deplore. Those critics add that the discussions of caste systems
in general have done little to advance an understanding of caste organization in Indian
civilization.
But at least these discussions of what is meant by a caste system helps us to understand
the systems of Indian society as part of the human continuum, as special phrasings and
configurations of social processes common among much of mankind. It is especially
important to understand the dynamic nature of the Indian systems, because they have so
often been depicted as static in Hindu scripture and in villagers’ concepts, as well as in
much of the writing on the subject.

2
www.southasianmedia.net/Magazine/.../castepolitics_india.htm, Last updated on 26 september,2010

SOCIOLOGY Page 8
 Caste System and Social Stratification in India

History of caste system in India

Vedic period: The development of the caste system in India never seems to be having
any universally accepted history as such. Though there is a general speculative faith that
the earliest settlers to this land, the Indo-Aryans might have actually established the caste
system, gradually placing them in the higher ladder of the society. There is a whole lot of
controversy regarding the theory of the Indo-Aryan migration. The Vedas or the most
ancient `shruti` texts emphasis very less on the caste system, same is maintained in a
hymn from the Rig Veda. Later scriptures like Bhagavad Gita and Manu Smriti
propounds four Varnas, to be God`s creation. There is a general idea believed by scholars
that may be in the initial phases the caste system was a bit flexible. Migration from one
caste to the other was possible by switching jobs. Various passages from Manu Smriti and
other scriptures emphasize that the caste system in India was originally non-hereditary.
Therefore, through these facts one gets an impression how the caste system developed in
the later stages into a firm intricate structure from a bendable one in the earlier Vedic age.

Colonial India: The castes did not constitute a rigid description of occupation or the
social status but the Britisher’s attempted to equate the Indian Caste System to their own
colonial caste system since the British society was divided by class. Britisher’s further
codified the caste system in India and made it more rigid. So the caste system played an
important role in shaping economic activities in Indian society. The fluidity
of caste system was affected by the arrival of British policy of divide and rule. Rigid
categorization of population also contributed towards the hardening of caste identities.

Post -independence: In semi rural areas and small towns the caste system is still very
rigid. Caste is also a very important factor in the politics of India. After independence, the
government has officially documented castes and sub-castes, primarily to determine
reservation in education and jobs through census. The Indian reservation system relies
entirely on quotas for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward castes.
This system has been fairly successful in bringing the backward castes into the
mainstream. However, the caste based reservations in India has also led to widespread

SOCIOLOGY Page 9
 Caste System and Social Stratification in India

protests due to reverse discrimination against the upper caste. Also the caste based
politics in India has created various undue tensions amongst the social forces. With a
passage of six-decades after independence the caste based discrimination in our country
has been addressed to some extent but there is still enough scope to bridge the inter-
caste gaps in the society. The economic and social equality, globalization, extensive
education, youth empowerment and social organizations have contributed a great
deal in mellowing down the deeply rooted caste based discrimination in our country.

Relevance of caste system in India:

Although India is a political democracy, the hierarchical caste system is deeply rooted
into the society, whether it is North or South, Hindu’s or Muslim’s and cities or villages.
This system of discrimination, between the high and low castes exists, almost in every
community. The caste system was evolved when India’s ancient civilizations, absorbed
the nomadic Aryan population who crossed central Asia to enter northern India. The four
castes developed out of necessity of its own social order and moral and ritual quotes. The
word caste comes from Portuguese word ‘Casta’ (breed or race). The Sanskrit word that
applied to the groupings was ‘Varna’, which is often interpreted as colour. However as
per ‘Mahabharata’, if different colors indicate different castes the all castes are mixed
castes. The Hindus also believed that the ‘Varna’ of a man is determined by his profession
and deeds rather than his birth. Traditionally, the political power rested with kshatriyas
and Brahmins were custodian of dharma. The Vaishyas were the traders and running the
economy whereas, Shudras were service providers.3
Functions of caste system:-The caste system is credited to ensure the continuity of the
traditional social organization of India. It has accommodated multiple communities
including invading tribes in the Indian society. The knowledge and skills of the
occupations have passed down from one generation to the next. Through subsystems like
Jajmani system, the caste system promoted interdependent interaction between various
castes and communities with in a village. The rituals and traditions promoted cooperation
and unity between members of the different castes.

3
www.indianetzone.com › Reference › History of India, Last updated on 23 september,2010

SOCIOLOGY Page 10
 Caste System and Social Stratification in India

Provisions for backward castes in Indian Constitution:

The vision of the formulators of the Indian Constitution was to develop India into a
socialist state. A socialist state is the one that protects and uplifts its weaker sections. It
strives to reduce the social and economical inequality between the people. To achieve this
goal, our constitution has incorporated several provisions that are in the benefit of the
weaker sections of the society. Based on these provisions the central and state
governments implement plans or frame laws to turn this vision into reality.

Due to the caste system prevailing in India, the sudras have been exploited for the ages.
They were denied the right to education and thus were left languishing behind, socially
and economically. Such people have been categorized into Scheduled Castes. Tribal
communities, who never mixed with the main society, are similarly challenged and are
categorized into ST. The constitution does not define the term backward classes. It is up
to the center and the states to specify the classes that belong to this group. However, it is
understood that classes that are not represented adequately in the services of the state can
be termed backward classes. Further, the President can, under Art. 340, can constitute a
commission to investigate the condition of socially and educationally backward classes.
Based on this report, the president may specify the backward classes.

Clause 4 of article 15 is the fountain head of all provisions regarding compensatory

discrimination for SCs/STs. This clause was added in the first amendment to the
constitution in 1951 after the SC judgement in the case of Champakam Dorairajan vs
State of Madras. It says thus, "Nothing in this article or in Article 29(2) shall prevent the
state from making any provisions for the advancement of any socially and economically
backward classes of citizens or for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes." This clause
started the era of reservations in India. In the case of Balaji vs State of Mysore, the SC
held that reservation cannot be more than 50%. Art. 15(4) talks about backward classes
and not backward castes thus caste is not the only criterion for backwardness and other
criteria must also be considered. Finally, in the case of Indra Sawhney vs Union of
India, SC upheld the decision given under Balaji vs State of Mysore that reservation
should not exceed 50% except only in special circumstances. Art. 15 (5) clause was

SOCIOLOGY Page 11
 Caste System and Social Stratification in India

added in 93rd amendment in 2005 and allows the state to make special provisions for
backward classes or SCs or STs for admissions in private educational institutions, aided
or unaided. Art. 16(4) clause allows the state to reserve vacancies in public service for
any backward classes of the state that are not adequately represented in the public
services. Art. 16 (4A) allows the state to implement reservation in the matter
of promotion for SCs and STs. Art. 16(4B) allows the state to consider unfilled vacancies
reserved for backward classes as a separate class of vacancies not subject to a limit of
50% reservation. Art. 17 abolish untouchability and its practice in any form. Although the
term untouchability has not been defined in the constitution or in any act but its meaning
is to be understood not in a literal sense but in the context of Indian society. 4 Due to the
varna system, some people were relegated to do menial jobs such as cleaning toilets.
Such people were not to be touched and it was considered a sin to even touch their
shadow. They were not even allowed to enter public places such as temples and shops.
The constitution strives to remove this abhorring practice by not only making the
provision a fundamental right but also allows punishment to whoever practices or abets it
in any form. Towards this end, Protection of Civil Rights Act 1955 was enacted. Art. 40
Provides reservation in 1/3 seats in Panchayats to SC/ST.

Art. 164 Appoint special minister for tribal welfare in the states of MP, Bihar, and Odisha.
Art. 275 Allows special grant in aids to states for tribal welfare. Art. 330 and 332 allow
reservation of seats for SC/ST in the parliament as well as in state legislatures. Art. 335
Allows relaxation in qualifying marks for admission in educational institutes or
promotions for SCs/STs. Art. 340: Allows the president to appoint a commission to
investigate the condition of socially and economically backward classes and table the
report in the parliament.

Reservations:
Indian constitution envisages a state where everybody is treated equally. Even in the
preamble, the constitution strives to provide equality in opportunity. Further, the
constitution adopts the concept of "like should be treated alike" as the basis of equality.

4
www.lotussculpture.com/bronze_sculpture_caste.htm, Last updated on 24 september,2010

SOCIOLOGY Page 12
 Caste System and Social Stratification in India

Thus, it is very clear that the constitution guarantees special provisions to be made for the
betterment of special classes of citizens. In Part XVI, the constitution has laid down
several articles that provide preferential treatment to backward classes.

There can be several ways through which the condition of backward classed can be
improved and reservation is one such way. So it can be safely said that although
reservation is not guaranteed by the constitution or it is not a constitutional right but it is
certainly protected by the constitution as a mechanism to uplift the underprivileged
classes.
Critical Analysis and Personal view:
In my view, reservation, in principle, is an effective means of improving the condition of
socially and economically backward classes. Further, since wrongs were done against
SC/STs in the name of caste system, I believe that they should be meaningfully
compensated. However, it must be alienated from politics for truly benefiting these
classes. It must be ensured that this benefit goes to the really deserving people and not to
those who have already availed its benefit. The objective of reservation should be to bring
an end to reservation itself by uplifting every one of the backward classes.

Therefore, I think that the judgement delivered in the case of Indra Sawhney vs Union
of India by the SC in 1993 is a very fair one because it balances the amount of
compensation with general efficiency of administration by capping reservation to 50%. It
also ensures that the benefits are not hogged by the already empowered people (exclusion
of creamy layer).5

Caste system: An impediment to national growth

If there is one thing that is a characteristic of an Indian, irrespective of his region, his
language and even his religion, then it is his or her caste. India has a long history of a
society divided in different castes and Jaats, which goes beyond 2500 years. There are
mentions of a society based on varnas (class) that are decided by the occupation or
interests of a person, in the Vedas, that are the oldest written books of Hindu religion.
5
india_resource.tripod.com/social.htm, Last updated on 2 september,2010

SOCIOLOGY Page 13
 Caste System and Social Stratification in India

Over a period of time, these classes better known as castes became a hereditary
phenomenon, making castes permanent. The caste system is not restricted to Hindus only,
as there are different castes among Muslims and also at some places in India, among
Christians. But the most rigid, prevalent and universal caste system exists among Hindus
that constitute 80 percent of the population.
To understand caste system, it is important to understand its history and evolution in
Indian context. Initially, the society was divided among 4 major castes or classes, that
were Brahmans, Kshatriyas ,Vaisyas and Shudras. The caste of a person was decided by
his or her occupation. People who were knowledgeable, had intellectual bent of mind and
were a scholar, a teacher or a learned man were the Brahmans. Kshatriyas were the
people in the occupation of warfare, kings and other warriors. Vaisyas were the
businessman, shopkeepers, and traders etc. And the last castes were the group of people
who performed daily day-to-day life duties, like cleaner, gardener, laborer etc.
But with time this system has deteriorated to a large extent. Today there are more than
2500 different castes and sub-castes in India. It is decided by the birth of the person and
not by one’s interests, that to which caste will one belongs. And also the castes are
hierarchical in order. The Brahmans are the upper class and the Shudras, the lower class.
From more than 1000 years, Shudras, are seen with disrespect, with no dignity of labor,
and are even humiliated for the caste they belong to. Some of the lower castes are also
termed as Untouchables, making them an outcast among the general public.
Today, caste system is one of the biggest impediments in the path of India’s success as a
country. This system makes the power and resources of country divided. Also, the
existence of hierarchical caste system causes disharmony and gives rise to hatred among
common people.
Political leaders have actually deteriorated the condition by playing their dirty games of
making the caste an issue of elections. It is an open secret that in many places across the
country, the votes are cast , keeping in mind the caste of the candidate, rather than his or
her work in the direction of development. The intermingling of caste and politics has
played havoc with the progress of the nation.
Another major consequence of the disease called caste system is Reservations. The
backward castes, which are SC(Scheduled castes), ST(Scheduled Tribes) and the

SOCIOLOGY Page 14
 Caste System and Social Stratification in India

OBC( other backward castes), are provided reservations in all government schools,
colleges and in public sector jobs of 22.5 percent for SC, ST and 27 percent for OBC,
apart from many other benefits like education concessions and financial assistance etc.
This in my opinion, is disastrous and in reality, just a way to woo the votes of these
castes. As these reservations, leads to a set of students and employees, who selected are
not on the basis of their merit; but on the basis of their castes. This is nothing less than a
caste system with the reversed hierarchical order and not actually a solution to it. Also
this reduces the overall quality of employees and future engineers, doctors etc and render
many meritorious students jobless. I believe reservation, if provided, should be on
economical basis. As the current reservations are more of a political stunt then an actual
step in the direction of doing away with Caste system.
Caste system and Politics in India
India boasts of running the largest democracy successfully for over 60 years. Now the
time has come to revisit the facts and analyze one of the key areas where we have failed
to achieve what was intended. Indian political arena has undergone radical changes from
the moment we have attained freedom from the shackles of the British. Politics in India
which were supposed to be free from discrimination and exploitation, have taken a turn
around the moment power has been handed over to these fraudulent politicians. Caste
based political parties have emerged with a vicious intention of cashing on vote bank of
the most commanding class in terms of number. Caste based political parties have
initiated a brutal process of concentrating on the large vote bank of a particular caste.

Mahatma Gandhi and B. R. Ambedkar had radically different approaches to caste

especially over constitutional politics and the status of "untouchables". 6 Till the mid-
1970s, the politics of independent India was largely dominated by economic issues and
questions of corruption. But since 1980s, caste has emerged as a major issue. According
to a report by Human Rights Watch, "Dalits and indigenous peoples (known as Scheduled
Tribes or adivasis) continue to face discrimination, exclusion, and acts of communal

6
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste_politics_in_India, Last updated on 20 september,2010

SOCIOLOGY Page 15
 Caste System and Social Stratification in India

violence. Laws and policies adopted by the Indian government provide a strong basis for
protection, but are not being faithfully implemented by local authorities."

Though Indian National Congress succeeded in keeping all the sections of the community
under its umbrella for a couple of decades, by early 70’s caste based politics have sprung
to life. From then on we have seen a vital change in the way the political parties
approached the Indian voter. A particular section of the society when deprived of the
progress and government aid, are left with not much choice other than to choose a
candidate from their lot who can raise their issues at the national level. I should say most
of the political parties during 80’s and 90’s succeeded in representing their section and
decipher their tribulations. Almost all the sections considered to be backward have
succeeded in drawing the attention of the ruling party to unravel their concerns. This is
truly a positive sign to the political arena. But with time political parties got side tracked
from their actual motto and started to indulge themselves in cheap political tricks.

Now the political situation in the country is very grim. If we analyze the manifestos of
political parties in 2009 general elections, the agenda revolved around wooing the various
sections of the society.7 Looks like this general election have witnessed more number of
caste based political parties than the previous ones. We have also witnessed political
leaders making inflammatory statements in open meetings. The election commission has
succeeded in arresting the political parties from crossing limits to some extent but it could
not wipe them out completely. Caste based politics are surely a negative phenomenon to
the Indian political arena. Political parties and leaders should understand that caste based
politics might act as a hindrance to the nations development.

Criticism

Back in 1950s, B. R. Ambedkar had criticized the use of caste as a political plank . He
anticipated the limitations of using caste as a political resource and instead, emphasized
on eliminating the concept of caste from the society.8

7
www.globalpost.com/dispatch/india/.../caste-system-india-politics, Last updated on 22 september,2010
8
theviewspaper.net/caste-based-politics/, Last updated on 21 september,2010

SOCIOLOGY Page 16
 Caste System and Social Stratification in India

Caste System and Social Stratification

Stratification is a hierarchy of positions with regard to economic production which

influences the social rewards to those in the positions. Primitive communalism
characterized by a high degree of sharing and minimal social inequality. In sociology and
other social sciences, social stratification refers to the hierarchical arrangement of
individuals into divisions of power and wealth within a society. Stratification derives
from the geological concept of strata - rock layers created by natural processes. The term
most commonly relates to the socio-economic concept of class, involving the
"classification of persons into groups based on shared socio-economic conditions ... a
relational set of inequalities with economic, social, political and ideological dimensions."

In modern Western societies, stratification is broadly organized into three main layers:
upper class, middle class, and lower class. Each class may be further subdivided into
smaller classes (e.g. occupational). These categories are particular to state-level societies
as distinguished from, for instance, feudal societies composed of nobility-to-peasant
relations. Stratification may also be defined by kinship ties or castes. For Max Weber,
social class pertaining broadly to material wealth is distinguished from status class which
is based on such variables as honor, prestige and religious affiliation. It is debatable
whether the earliest hunter-gatherer groups may be defined as 'stratified', or if such
differentials began with agriculture and broad acts of exchange between groups. One of
the ongoing issues in determining social stratification arises from the point that status
inequalities between individuals are common, so it becomes a quantitative issue to
determine how much inequality qualifies as stratification.

Openness is the opportunity for individuals to change their status. Caste stratification
systems are closed whereas class stratification systems are more open. The degree of
equality is the degree to which the social structure approaches an equal distribution of
resources. Hunting and gathering societies are typically very equal with inequality
developing in later stages of agriculture and industrialization.
The concept of social stratification is interpreted differently by the various theoretical
perspectives of sociology. Proponents of structural-functionalism have suggested that

SOCIOLOGY Page 17
 Caste System and Social Stratification in India

since social stratification is commonly found in developed societies, hierarchy may be

necessary in order to stabilize social structure. Talcott Parsons, an American sociologist,
asserted that stability and social order are achieved by means of a universal value
consensus, satisfying the functional prerequisites of a society. By contrast, conflict
theories, such as Marxism, point to the inaccessibility of resources and lack of social
mobility found in stratified societies. Many sociological theorists have criticized the
extent to which the working classes are unlikely to advance socioeconomically; the
wealthy tend to hold political power which they use to exploit the proletariat
intergenerationally. Theorists such as Ralf Dahrendorf, however, have noted the tendency
toward an enlarged middle-class in modern Western societies due to the necessity of an
educated workforce in technological and service economies.9 Various social and political
perspectives concerning globalization, such as dependency theory, suggest that these
effects are due to the shift of workers to the third world.

Why stratification exists?

Natural inevitability which suggests that inequality exists because of natural differences
in people's abilities and is a just system. Structural -functionalist which states that
stratification is useful to society because it enhances stability and induces members of the
society to work hard. Conflict which suggests that stratification occurs through conflict
between different classes, with the upper classes using superior power to take a larger
share of the social resources. Evolutionary which states that people will share enough
resources to ensure the survival of the group until a surplus exists at which time power
determines how the surplus is distributed. Symbolic Interactionist which calls attention to
the importance of symbolic displays of wealth and power that influence one's definition
of self and the importance of ideas in defining social situations. Inequality may emanate
from natural differences in people's abilities. What are the functionalist and conflict
theories as to the reasons for stratification? Structural-functionalists believe that societies
tend to be stable and are held together through consensus. Stratification provides an
important function to society by aiding this process because it lessens conflict and
9
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/.../search?...%20caste%20and%20politics%20in%20india, Last updated on
20 september,2010

SOCIOLOGY Page 18
 Caste System and Social Stratification in India

provides structure. Conflict theorists believe that society tends toward conflict and
change and that stratification system coerce the lower classes in order to benefit the upper
classes.

CONCLUSION

I am of the opinion that the caste system in Hinduism has been unduly highlighted by the
media and state that one way to discredit any system is to highlight its excesses, and this
only adds to the sense of inferiority that many Indians feel about their own culture. Caste
system is often portrayed as the ultimate horror, in the media; however, there is no
organized discrimination in other societies as Hinduism has in its society. The slight
bright hope is that the discrimination has slightly reduced now while untouchability has
been drastically reduced if not fully eliminated and raises its ugly head in some form or
other. The Indian Government has catered for various reservations in Government jobs,
educational Institutions, Professional colleges such as medicine, Engineering and Dental
Courses. Reservations have also been laid down in various parliamentary constituencies
and legislatures of States apart from various local and municipal bodies. Some States and
political parties vie with each other in extending more and more reservations based on the
castes to become popular and gain vote banks. These gimmicks have resulted in serious
unrest among youth and agitations that have resulted in further cleavages between various
castes and sects in the society.

Thus it is seen that caste system although was not sanctioned by Vedas made inroads into
the society and got entrenched. With Government policies, further irreparable damage has
been done to the society and it would be impossible to eradicate the evil. Vested interests
have developed due to various reservations where merit is thrown to winds.
Thus Caste system is going to stay permanently in India and all slogans
denouncing the system is a pure and mere eye wash. Although Caste system is outwardly
shown as the biggest villain in Indian social and political scene, it is encouraged more
and more at every level and is being institutionalized, regularized and being promoted.
There is no element of doubt that Hinduism has to live by this system outwardly called

SOCIOLOGY Page 19
 Caste System and Social Stratification in India

evil and internally is being strongly promoted by virtue of vested interests. Although
caste was not originally intended to be acquired by birth, it has become hereditary in
character and Hindu society has to reconcile to it. The society is facing serious challenges
and conflicts on account of this system, yet people have to live by the system. In the
meantime, Indian society is slowly inching towards caste war that could prove
catastrophic to the Indian nation and also could lead to its own destruction. If at all India
is to be destroyed, it will not be out of any enemy action, and it would be out of the caste
war that could spell doom to the nation perpetuated by its own selfish leaders.10

BIBLIOGRAPHY
BOOKS REFERRED
Atal, Yogesh, (2009) Changing Indian Society, Rawat Publication, Jaipur.
Beteille Andre, (2007) Caste Class And Power,Second Edition,Oxford University Press,
New Delhi
Dahiwale S.M., (2007) Understanding Indian Society The Non-Brahmanic Perspective,
Rawat Publication, Jaipur.
Ahuja Ram , (2008) Indian Social System, Rawat Publications, Jaipur.
Byrne David, (2006) Social Exclusion, Second Edition, Rawat Publication, Jaipur.
Paul B. Horton & Chested L. Hunt, (2009) Sixth Edition, Tata Mcgraw Hill Education
Private Limited, New Delhi

10
www.sociologyguide.com/questions/social-stratification.php, Last updated on 25 september,2010

SOCIOLOGY Page 20
 Caste System and Social Stratification in India

WEBSITES REFERRED
1. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste_politics_in_India
2. india_resource.tripod.com/social.htm
3. theviewspaper.net/caste-based-politics/
4. timesofindia.indiatimes.com/.../search?...%20caste%20and%20politics%20in
%20india
5. www.globalpost.com/dispatch/india/.../caste-system-india-politics
6. www.indianetzone.com › Reference › History of India
7. www.lotussculpture.com/bronze_sculpture_caste.htm
8. www.sociologyguide.com/questions/social-stratification.php
9. www.southasianmedia.net/Magazine/.../castepolitics_india.htm
10. www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-caste-system.htm

SOCIOLOGY Page 21