The Ancient Caste System in India
Keywords:
Caste system, Social stratificationAbstract
Classical studies on pre-modern Indian social structure have suggested apparent differences between the Indian caste system and social stratification as one can discern in other parts of the world. However, one needs to question such dogmatic assertions that such vast differences really existed. An endeavor is made in this research paper to reflect on the nature of caste hierarchy in pre-modern India. The caste system forms the significant basis of pre-modern Indian social structure. Early writers conceived the caste system of pre-modern India as something unique to India. An attempt is made to question this application of theory of uniqueness in the case of India.
References
Ambedkar B. R. (1925/1989). “Essays on untouchables and untouchability I,” In Writings and Speeches Vol. 5 ed. Moon V., editor. (Bombay: Education Department, Government of Maharashtra; ). [Google Scholar]
Biernat M., Vescio T. K., Billings L. S. (1999). Black sheep and expectancy violation: integrating two models of social judgment. Eur. J. Soc. Psychol. 29 523–542. 10.1002/(SICI)1099-0992(199906)29:4<523::AID-EJSP944>3.0.CO;2-J [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
Branscombe N. A., Castle K., Dorsey A. G., Surbeck E., Taylor J. B. (2000). Early Childhood Education – A Constructivist Approach. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. [Google Scholar] Branscombe N. R., Ellemers N., Spears R., Doosje B. (1999). “The context and content of social identity threat,” in Social Identity: Context, Commitment, Content eds Ellemers N., Spears R., Doosje B., editors. (Oxford, UK: Blackwell; ) 35–58. [Google Scholar]
Branscombe N. R., Wann D. L., Noel J. G., Coleman J. (1993). In-Group or out-group extremity: importance of the threatened social identity. Pers. Soc. Psychol. Bull. 19 381–388. 10.1177/0146167293194003 [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
Brewer M. B., Gaertner S. L. (2008). “Toward reduction of prejudice: intergroup contact and social categorization,” in Blackwell Handbook of Social Psychology: Intergroup Processes eds Brown R., Gaertner S. L., editors. (Oxford: Blackwell Publishers Ltd; ) 10.1002/9780470693421.ch22 [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
Castano E., Paladino M.-P., Coull A., Yzerbyt V. Y. (2002). Protecting the ingroup stereotype: ingroup identification and the management of deviant ingroup members. Br. J. Soc. Psychol. 41 365–385. 10.1348/014466602760344269 [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] 8. Cotterill S., Sidanius J., Bhardwaj A., Kumar V. (2014). Ideological support for the indian caste system: social dominance orientation, right-wing authoritarianism and karma. J. Soc. Polit. Psychol. 2 98–116. 10.5964/jspp.v2i1.171 [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
Deshpande M. S. (2010). History of the Indian Caste System and Its Impact on India Today. New York, NY: California University Press. [Google Scholar]
Dirks N. B. (1989). The original caste: power, history and hierarchy in south asia. Contrib. Indian Sociol. 23 59–77. 10.1177/006996689023001005 [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
Doosje B., Ellemers N., Spears R. (1995). Perceived intragroup variability as a function of group status and identification. J. Exp. Soc. Psychol. 31 410–436. [Google Scholar]
Dreze J., Khera R. (2009). The Battle for Employment Guarantee. Available at: http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl2601/stories/20090116260100400.htm [Google Scholar]
Dube L. (2001). Anthropological Explorations in Gender: Intersecting Fields. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE. [Google Scholar]