CULTURAL DIVERSITY ASSIGNMENT

Topic: Stratification and Caste System

Stratification

* The word is derived from geology.

* Social Stratification- Placement of individual and groups on the basis of social differences in income, status etc.

Social Stratification- It separate people into distinctive categories on the basis of similar and dissimilar characteristics.

- Key Principles of Stratification •Universal but variable •It is a characteristics of society. •It persist over generation by inheritance. •It is supported by patterns of belief.

Need of Social Stratification

Duties and Responsibilities.Limited Resource.

Types of Social Stratification

• Estates System:- Based inland and in loyalty to an entity that control the Land.TypesThe landed gentry/nobility.The serfs or peasantryClergy

•Class System:- It is basically originated due to modern capitalist system.TypesUpperMiddleWorking

Class Awareness and Class Consciousness

oAmericans are more aware of class today.

oAwareness- Knowing class exist and have some idea of what class you belong to.

oConsciousness- Aware of not only class membership, but of corporate interest of that class vis-à-vis other classes and society as a whole.

Stratification: Through ages in India1.Pre Aryan Period-oThey were Indo-Iran origin came around 1500 B.C.oMohenjodara period (3000-1500BC)- Icons of Mother Goddess and Male God seated in yogic posture.oCulture showed few ideas of early Hinduism, worship of Shakti, Shiva, and Nature.

2.Vedic Period-oBetween 2000BC to 600BC (Aryan Period)oUpanishads were written and put seeds of stratification.oTeaching of Bhagawad Gita (~300BC)

Contd….3.The Pauranic Age-o300A.D to 1200A.D (Maximum Stratification)oBrahmas came to dominance.oBhuddhism and Jainism were on decline.oSaivism, Vaishnavism, Shaktism, Zorostraianism were introduced.oConstruction of large temples.

4.The Muslim Periodo1200 AD to 1757 AD , Muslim Community introduced on permanent basis.oConversation of Hindus into Muslim went on large scale.oBhakti Movement took place.

5.The British Ageo1757AD - 1947ADoinfluenced by western thought.oArya and Bramho Samaj were born.oVendata philosophy developed.oSynthesis of different cultures.oRitual Religion with devotion.oCaste difference widened

6.The Modern Period

oUpliftment of lower castes, removal of untouchability by great leaders.oFraming of Constitution of India (Dr. B.R Ambedkar)

Discrimination in the Modern world

oAs caste continues to the important category, inequality is propagated in much of the modern world.oRacial and National discrimination justified exploitation of colonies.oColonial system create exploitation pattern across vast oceans and geographical territories ~ Continue to survive in India, Africa and other colonized Nations.oColonialism shows up there is no equal work for equal pay across nations.oBattles for social equality need widespread support and determined by how's India's economy develops.oAny social system based on unequal access to economic assets will lead to some form of social inequality and discrimination.oStratified India had distinction of Unity in diversity over years.oVarious details of state craft were recorded in treatises like Arthashastra and Neetishastra.

Consequences of Stratification1.Social•Provisional languages gained importance as Sanskrit was tough.•Emergence of rank in the name of god.•In place of scientific vocational arrangements innumerable gods evolved.

2.Economic•Due to highest strata Brahmans and Kshateiyas started amassing wealth.•Grab, hate, greed result in intra-religion fights.•Lower strata economical deprived and oppressed.

3.Political•Weakening of Integrity and cohesiveness of political.•Divide and Rule policy of Muslims and European.

4.Occupation•Manu Smriti divides the human race.•Rigidity in classification started rituals and subcaste.•Higher responsibility on unworthy shoulders.•Sudaras were excluded from religious field.•Social operation were prevalent.

Caste system• Caste is define as rigid social system in which asocial

hierary is maintained generation after generation and allows little mobility out of the position to which a person born.

• Confined to India only.• Hindu community belong to 2000caste which divide

into groups arranged in a complex system of social differentiation .

Doctrine of Karma .

According to karma, Hindus had 4 classes .Brahmans - Order of priests and law givers . They represented world religion and

learning.Kshatriyas - The fighting and ruling class.Vaishyas - The commercial ,agricultural, and

pastoral pursuits .Sudrus - To give service to other three classes Also by handicrafts. They are called as varnas –Meaning color

Sub castes in Islam and ChristmasIslam different sects :-Shias (Bohri Muslims)Sunnys (Bohri Muslims)Agha Khan MuslimsPathansMujahedeens•Fights and conflicts have become more complicated now a days.

Christians Categories :-CatholicsProtestants•Subcaste is followed only for marriage and family functions.•Fights and conflicts in olden days.

Social, Political, Economical and Cultural Consequences

Social•Dalit were not allowed to use public road, public wells which were in village.•Dalit were deprived of education.•Dalit women were put to more difficulties in leading normal life.

Political•Brahmins dominate village panchayat, local municipal etc.•Lower rungs of society had no role in running state.

Economical•Brahmins were allowed to own large areas of land whereas low caste people were not encouraged to own any land.•Lower caste people were deprived of trading facilities.Cultural•As lower strate not allowed to mix, they developed their own literature known as Dalit literature.•Great leaders brought reforms to bring lower classes to main stream.

Caste system and its Evils•Stratification based on occupation, income, and statusi.Occupation (olden days)ii.Income and statusiii.Predicament of weaker section

•Deprivation, Helplessness and ViolenceVarious enquirers and studies have revealed that grievances and violence is due to1. Poverty2. Unemployment3. Poor health care and education4. Social discrimination•Social violence ~ Attack upon individual or their property mainly because of their membership of a particular social groups.

Other Evils of Caste System

• Untouchability.• Child marriage.• Restriction in society and social interaction.• Civil and religious disabilities to some sectionry.• Restriction in choice of occupations (unworthy

workers)• Casteism (caste feeling)• Other benefits of various schemes were enjoyed by

higher caste people.• It started unnecessary rituals and sub cartes.• Restriction on marriage .• Deprivation of education .• Difficulties for women (Dalit).

Special Rights in Constitution•Equality word in Preamble of Constitution will carry meaning only if nation as a whole is brought on same level.•To create equal status for backward and deprived people.1. Special Rights for Dalits ( SC, ST)

•Cannot be challenged by others in court of law as discrimination against them.•State can prohibits others from acquiring their land and property to protect their interest.•For various services of them shall be taken into consideration.•National commission will be constituted by President of India.•Special provisions are laid to care the educational and economic interests of weaker section of people.•Union government will provide grant in aid to state, for meeting costs of welfare scheme.

2. Special Provisions for Other Backward Class (OBC)

•Parliament appointed a commission in 1953 headed by Kaka Saheb Kalelkar. (Popular as secretary of Mahatma Gandhi)

•Union advised state government to take their own decisions to help the cause of Backward Classes.

Mandal Commission•Commission formed under Mr. B.P Mandal.•27% reservations for seats in government services and admission to education institutions.

Mandal Commission Case•Indira sawhney Vs. Union of India case.•Points 011 reservation laid down for government jobs.

Abolition of UntouchabilityGrounds on which people can be punished for practicing Untouchabie.•Refusal of admission in any public institution.•Not allowing in shops, restaurants, hotels etc and not allowing to use taps, water sources, cremation grounds etc•Insulting member of SC on grounds of untouchability, preaching untouchability.

Practicing Untouchability is imprisonment from 1-2 yearsDisowned from contesting for any elected bodies of state or Union legislation.

Comments Theory Vs. Practice

•Without provision of Indian Constitution it would have been very difficult to uplift the weaker section.

•Meritocracy of private sector may continue another 10-20 years by which time the education and talent level of weaker sections candidate is likely to improve.

•SC/ST and OBC category people prefer government jobs for security and continuity.