1. The document discusses the evolution of understanding caste in Indian society from various perspectives over time. 2. Early theories on the origin of caste included the traditional theory of divine origins, the racial theory of Aryan invasion, and the political and occupational theories related to the role of Brahmins and the division of labor. 3. Louis Dumont's influential work portrayed caste as organized around the principles of purity and pollution, emphasizing the totality of the system over individual members. 4. More recent views have examined caste as involving notions of bodily substances and interpersonal exchange, and have taken a comparative perspective looking at when and how strict separation and endogamy operate.

1. Unit I – Understanding Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
Avinash Bhale
Asst.Professor cum Asst.Director

2. b) Evolution of Caste in Indian
Society
–Epistemological understanding of caste.
–Theories of caste formation
–Transformations and paradigm sifts in
understanding and visualizes caste in Indian
society.

3. Epistemological understanding of
caste.
The word is derived from the Latin word
‘Castus’, which means ‘pure’. The Portuguese
word ‘Casta’ which means race, lineage or pure
stock.

4. Definition
• According to G.S.Ghurye “Castes are small and complete social
worlds in themselves marked off definitely from one another though
subsisting within the larger society.”
• According to MacIver “When status is wholly predetermined 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 A.W.Green, “Caste is a system of stratification in which
mobility, movement up and down in the status ladder, at least
ideally, may not occur.”
• According to Iravati Karve., “CASTE-SOCIETY is made up in such a
way that a very large proportion of the act ivity of the individuals is
confined to their own group. This is especially true of the social and
cultural aspects of their lives.”
Reference - Iravati Karve , What Is Caste? (IV) Caste-Society and Vedantic Thought , THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY ANNUAL, Jan 1959, Page
No. 149 .

5. The Characteristics of Indian Caste System
Dr. G.S. Ghuray –
1. Segmental Division of Society –
2. Hierarchy
3. Restrictions on feeding and social Intercourse
4. Restriction on choices of occupation
5. Restriction of Marriage
6. Social and Religious Disabilities and Privileges

6. Theories of caste formation
1. Traditional Theory
Traditional Theory
• According to this theory, the caste system is of divine
origin and it is extension of the varna system.
Chatura varnas were originated from the body of
Bramha.
• Brahmins (mainly teachers and intellectuals) is on top
of Varna hierarchy and came from Brahma’s head.
• Kshatriyas ( the warriors and rulers) came from his
arms.
• Vaishyas (the traders) were created from his thighs.
• Shudras (Serving Class/Domestic Servants) were at
bottom, who came from Brahma’s feet.
• The mouth signifies its use for preaching, learning
etc, the arms – protections, thighs – to cultivate or
business, feet – helps the whole body, so the duty of
the Shudras is to serve all the others. The sub
castes emerged later due to inter marriages between
the 4 varnas.
• The proponents of this theory are Purushasukta of
Rigveda, Manusmriti etc

7. • Racial Theory
• The Sanskrit word for caste is varna ( means
colour). Indian sociologist D.N. Majumdar writes in his
book, “Races and Culture in India”, the caste system
took its birth after the arrival of Aryans in India.
• According to this theory, caste system came into
existence due to clash of cultures and the contact of
races. The Aryans came to India as conquerors,
because of their better complexion, physical
appearance and built up of the body. In comparison
with the non-Aryans, the Aryans placed themselves as
a superior race over the non-Aryans. Thus the Aryans
considered the natives as inferior to them and
maintained their own ideas and ceremonial purity. The
Aryans got married to the non- Aryan women, but
refused to give their own daughters in marriage to the
non-Aryans. The Chandals had the lowest position in
society. Thus the irregular union between races and
racial superiority were held responsible for the origin
of caste system in India.
• Rig Vedic literature stresses very significantly the
differences between the Arya and Dasa, not only in
their colour but also in their speech, religious
practices, and physical features.
• Herbert Risley is one of the ardent advocates of racial
theory of the origin of caste system. Other supporters
of this theory are the scholars like Majumdar,
Westermarck and others.
2. Racial Theory

8. • According to this theory, caste system is a clever
device invented by the Brahmins in order to
place themselves on the highest ladder of social
hierarchy.
• Dr. Ghurye states, “Caste is a Brahminic child of
Indo-Aryan culture cradled in the land of the
Ganges and then transferred to other parts of
India.”
• The Brahmins even added the concept of
spiritual merit of the king, through the priest or
purohit in order to get the support of the ruler of
the land.
• Abbe Dubois thought that the caste system is an
ingenious device made by the Brahmins for
Brahmins. Brahmins imposed restriction on food
and social intercourse to preserve their purity
necessary for the sacerdotal functions. They also
accorded high status to themselves and declared
all others inferior to them. The Brahmins also
held that “Whatever a Brahimin says is a social
norm and the entire property of the society
belongs to the Brahmins.” The salvation of
individuals or society lied in the performance of
religious rites by the Brahmin only. The Brahmins
even added the concept of spiritual merit of the
king, through the priest or purohit in order to get
the support of the ruler of the land.
3. Political Theory

9. • 4. Occupational theory
• Regarding the origin of caste system
Nesfield developed a theory known as
occupation theory. This theory explains
the connectivity between the caste on
one side and the occupation on the
other side.
• The occupation theory states that the
origin of caste system can be found in
the nature and quality of work
performed by different groups of
people in the society.
• According to this theory if a particular
group follows a hereditary occupation it
evolves into a caste in course of time.
Occupation theory makes a clear cut
distinction between different
occupations based upon the idea of
relative purity and impurity.
• According to this theory the division of
society into Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya
and Sudra was in point of fact based on
occupations and emerged as the caste
system regulating a very rigid way of life
of Hindus.

10. Transformations and paradigm sifts in understanding
and visualizes caste in Indian society.
Pre –Dumontian views on caste – for Max Weber caste is an
integral aspects of Hinduism . He construed cases as a special and
extreme case of status groups. Karama is key . Future Celestine
Bougle’s essay stands important landmark In the intellectual
history of caste . In which he defines three important principles
of the sprits of caste .i.e. Hereditary Specialization , Hierarchy ,
Repulsion . Mr. Nesfield defines a caste as "a class of the
community which disown any connection with any other class
and can neither intermarry nor eat nor drink with any but
persons of their own community.“ Dr. B.R. Ambedkar also
discussed caste is closed class . He stated ,” Endogamy is the only
characteristic that is peculiar to caste, and if we succeed in
showing how endogamy is maintained, we shall practically have
proved the genesis and also the mechanism of Caste.

11. Dumontian view – Louis Dumont was a French
Scholar and he wrote a book “Homo
Hierachicus” . In this book he constructed a
textually informed image of caste , portraying
two opposing conceptual categories of Purity
and Pollution as the organizing principle of caste
and hierarchy . These are core principles
observed in scriptural formation as well as in
the everyday life of all Hindu. Dumont said that
,”the Indian caste system is not individualistic; it
emphasizes its totality , not its individual
members.

12. Post Dumontian view – McKim Marriott , he saw
caste as built up on a series of Notions
concerning bodily substances and inter-
personal exchange. givers and receivers

13. Caste in a comparative Perspective –
Quigley 1999 focuses caste in terms of
bounded groups argue that very strict
separation and endogamy only operates in
particular circumstances and for particular
groups . Those who aspire to dominance.
Beermen (1967)argued that caste is a
peculiar institution , a caste system occurs
were a society is made up of birth-ascribed
groups which are hierarchically ordered and
culturally distinct .

14. Thank you