Summarise
the social anthropological definition of caste.
Summarise the social anthropological definition of caste.
The social
anthropological definition of caste was given by G.S Ghurye, which
comprised six features. These were as follows:
(i) Caste
is an institution based on segmental division. This means that the
castes were different and closed segments that comprised people of an
exclusive social order determined by birth. The individuals born in a
particular caste would always remain in that caste.
(ii) Caste
society is based on hierarchical division. The caste system was based
on a hierarchical order, and each caste had unequal status as
compared to others.
(iii) The
institution of caste necessarily involves restrictions on social
interaction, specially sharing of food. There were many restrictions
in the caste system based on the ideas of purity and pollution.
(iv) Caste
involves differential rights and duties for different caste as a
consequence of hierarchy and restricted social interaction. These
pertained to religious life and everyday practices.
(v) The
choice of occupation, like caste itself, is decided by birth and is
hereditary. It was a rigid form of division of labour. A person born
as a shudra would always remain one, however hard he worked or
whatever success he achieved.
(vi) Caste
involves strict restrictions on marriage. The marriage between people
of different castes was strictly prohibited and rules existed
regarding both endogamy and exogamy.
The social anthropological definition of caste was given by G.S Ghurye, which comprised six features. These were as follows:
(i) Caste is an institution based on segmental division. This means that the castes were different and closed segments that comprised people of an exclusive social order determined by birth. The individuals born in a particular caste would always remain in that caste.
(ii) Caste society is based on hierarchical division. The caste system was based on a hierarchical order, and each caste had unequal status as compared to others.
(iii) The institution of caste necessarily involves restrictions on social interaction, specially sharing of food. There were many restrictions in the caste system based on the ideas of purity and pollution.
(iv) Caste involves differential rights and duties for different caste as a consequence of hierarchy and restricted social interaction. These pertained to religious life and everyday practices.
(v) The choice of occupation, like caste itself, is decided by birth and is hereditary. It was a rigid form of division of labour. A person born as a shudra would always remain one, however hard he worked or whatever success he achieved.
(vi) Caste involves strict restrictions on marriage. The marriage between people of different castes was strictly prohibited and rules existed regarding both endogamy and exogamy.
