A SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE ON CASTE BASED POLITICS IN INDIA

Abstract

Caste system finds its origin in the Spanish word “casta” meaning breed or race. Thus, basically, caste means people belonging to the same breed. The term caste has been defined differently by different people. According to Cooley, “When a class is somewhat hereditary we call it caste.” In the words of Risley, “A caste may be defined as a collection of families or groups of families bearing a common name which usually denotes or is associated with specific occupation claiming common descent from a mythical ancestor, human or divine professing to follow the same professional calling and are regarded by those who are competent to give an opinion as forming single and homogenous community.” According to Maclver, “When the status is wholly pre-determined so that men are born to their lot without any hope of change in it, then the class takes the extreme form of caste.” According to E.A.H. Blum, “A caste is an endogamous group, or collection of endogamous groups, bearing a common name, membership of which is hereditary imposing on its member's certain restrictions in the matter of social intercourse, either following a common traditional occupation or claiming a common origin and generally regarded as forming a single homogenous community.” Martindale and Monachese say, “A caste is an aggregate of persons whose share of obligations and privileges is fixed by birth, sanctioned and supported by religion and magic.” Prof. M.N. Srinivas says, “A sociologist would define caste as a hereditary endogamous, usually localized group, having a traditional association with an occupation, and a particular position in the local hierarchy of castes. Relations between castes are governed among other things, by the concepts of pollution and purity, and generally, maximum commensality occurs within the caste.”