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Sociology2014:AnswerWritingChallenge18
INSIGHTS
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SOCIOLOGY

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Sociology2014:AnswerWriting
Challenge18
BYINSIGHTSSEPTEMBER22,2014

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22September2014

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Answerin250words:

1)Whatargumentareadducedbysomeauthorstoassertthatthe caste
system ispeculiaronlytoIndia,andbysomeotherstoshowthatitisa
universalphenomenonobservableinotherpartsoftheworldaswell?
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2)Someauthorsmaintainthatthe caste system contributestosolidarity

andharmonyinsociety,whereassomeotherthinkthatitisanexploitative
system .Whatarethegroundsforsuchdivergentviews?

18 Comments

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Jointhediscussion
NRN 2monthsago

Someauthorsmaintainthatthe caste system contributestosolidarityand

harmonyinsociety,whereassomeotherthinkthatitisanexploitative system .
Whatarethegroundsforsuchdivergentviews?
Caste isaformofsocial stratification thatischaracerisedbyoccuptional
divisionof labour transmittedbyheredity,hierarchy,notionofpurityand
pollution,associatedrstrictionandprivilegesandrulesofsocialintercourse.
Therearedivergetviewsonitsnature.Hereisanexamination:
Caseascontributingtosolidarityandharmony
In caste system ,each caste hasanoccupationaldivisionof labour thatistobe
transmittedfromonegenerationtoanother.TheBrahminsarethepriests,
Khatriyastheadministratorwarrior,vaishyasthetradersandshudrasthemenial
class .Thiskindofspecialisationpreventsconflicteach group competeswith
theirown.Also,every group hasahereditoryoccupationtofallbackonfora
living.Thireducesthefrustrationofunemployment.Themostimportant
characterof caste system isthemutuainterdependenceofcastesthrough
jajmani system .The land owninguppercastesextendtheirpatronagetothe
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servicecasteswhoincludepotters,blacksmith,carpentersandpriests.Accoding
toWiser,eachoneisamasterintheJajmani system .
caste asexploitative system
Asapersonsoccupationisfixedatbirth,thereisnochanceforupward mobility
amongthelower caste evenifheisexceptionallytalented.AccordingtoOscar
Lewis,thoughjajmani system isbasedoninterdependence,itisnotanequal
one.Theupper caste exploitthelower caste .Theservcicecastesareboundbya
certainloyaltyandobligationtopatronsthattheyoftenworkwithoutanythingin
return.Theyareboundtotheirpatrons.Castealsoconfersunequalamountof
priviegesonuppercastesanddeprivationtolowercasts.Anuntouchablesvery
shadowisconsideredpolluting,his women cannotcovertheirbreast,they
cannotwalkonthecommonroadandsoon.
Hence,though caste createdinterdependenceandstability,theywere
exploitativeinnature.
Kiran>NRN 2monthsago

Thoughthecoreofthequestionisaboutmerits/demerits,Ifeelitshould
bewrappedupwithStudiesofthinkersandwhytheythinkso(Imeant
theywouldhaveobservedsomethingandfeltthatitisexploitativeor
otherwise).Further,inconclusionyoucanaddtheprevalentcondition
inIndia(Thoughbeingexploitative, caste haslotoflatentfunctionsto
offer).
NRN>Kiran 2monthsago

@Kiran..Thanksforthe review ..willkeeptheminmind

TikTok 2monthsago

Thisquestionmoreorlesstalksinreferencetomeritsanddemeritsof caste
system (whichformsagroundtodebatethistopic),wherebothstatement(in
favour/inagainsthavestrongargumentstosupport)
youcanimprovethisanswerbyaddingfewpointsintheflowofyouranswer.
Iamjustwritingfewmeritsanddemerits.consideringthispoints review your
answer*****and,alsogivemefeedbacktoimprovemyperception***
Merits
1.HarmoniousDivisionofSociety
2. Caste SystemsasaConstitutionofHinduSociety
3.ASourcefortheEvolutionofHigherRace
4.ASourceofStabilityandContentment
Demerits
1.SocialDisorganisation
2.PoliticalDisunity
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3.Untouchability
4.DespotismofUpper Caste
5.ReligiousConversions
6.LowerStatusof Women
7.Denies Mobility ofLabor
8.RetardsSolidarity
9.HindranceinNationalUnity
10.ObstacletoSocialProgress
11.Undemocratic
Madforias 2monthsago

Whatargumentareadducedbysomeauthorstoassertthatthe caste system is

peculiaronlytoIndia,andbysomeotherstoshowthatitisauniversal
phenomenonobservableinotherpartsoftheworldaswell?
Madforias > Madforias 2monthsago

page1
Madforias > Madforias 2monthsago

page2
Sahil Garg> Madforias 2monthsago

YoucouldhaveaddedRishleywhoadvocatedinhisrace
theorythat caste isaformofrace/orDange,Kosambhi
whosaysthatitisaformof class andhenceisuniversalin
character.
Youcanalsoaddhow caste ,race,ethnicityproduces
stratification .Thustherefunctionalroleissame.etcetc
Incaseofpeculiarity,youcouldhavementionedby
Dumontwhothinksthat caste produceshierarchywhile
westernsocietiesaredrivenby stratification
Kiran> Madforias 2monthsago

My comments .
Pros:Divisionofanswersandquotingdifferentthinkers(Note:
Pleasebecautionswhilequotingmanyofthemasitmustnotlook
likedoingitforthesakeofit)
Cons
Question'sneedArgumentsgivenbythinkerswhentheysay
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about caste beingpeculiarlyIndianorotherwise(DumontU

havetakenexamplebutuneedtosubstantiate:Hesaysso
becauseofhiscomparitiveanalysisbetweeneuropeandIndiaand
soon)
Conclusionlooksabrupt
Misc
Ifexamplesaregivenfor Caste likedivisionsacrosstheworld,
thenitwouldstrengthenyouranswer.(PleaselookinWiki,there
aremany)
Madforias >Kiran 2monthsago

thanksKiranforthefeedback
NRN 2monthsago

@ Tiktok ..
inthepointsyoumentionedunder"merits",the2nd,3rdand4thpointsdont
seemtobegroundsforsocialsolidarity..
thepointsunder"demerits"arefairlywellcovered..
TikTok >NRN 2monthsago

@NRN
thanks.
Takefewfunctionsof caste system (beneficialfunctions)inaccountin
additiontothepointscoveredbyyou
Socialization
GuidingHumanBehavior
Social,cultural,religious,mental...security
Politicalstabilizerandsocialstabilizer
Separationofthesociallifefrompoliticallife
TikTok >NRN 2monthsago

@NRN
thanks.
Takefewfunctionsof caste system (beneficialfunctions)inaccountin
additiontothepointscoveredbyyou
Socialization
GuidingHumanBehavior
Social,cultural,religious,mental...security
Politicalstabilizerandsocialstabilizer
Separationofthesociallifefrompoliticallife
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Iwillsuggesttolookonceatyourarticlelibrary.comandsearchtopics
relatedtosociologyinsearchbox.:)
NRN> TikTok 2monthsago

@ Tiktok ...Thanks:)

Madforias 2monthsago

Someauthorsmaintainthatthe caste system contributestosolidarityand

harmonyinsociety,whereassomeotherthinkthatitisanexploitative system .
Whatarethegroundsforsuchdivergentviews?
Madforias > Madforias 2monthsago

Page1
Madforias > Madforias 2monthsago

Page2
Sahil Garg> Madforias 2monthsago

Inharmonious system ,mentionG.S.Ghuryewhosaysthat

jajmanirelationshiparedrivenbya system ofgiveand
taken.
WhileGaroldadvocatethatjajgamirelationshipisnot
harmoniousaslower caste offersmaximumservicesand
thisisnotthecaseofupper caste .
Further,refertovarnizationof caste andcasteisationof
castethatlargelyspeaksaboutharmoniousand
disharmoniouscharacterofcaste.
Mentionabout caste councilsandalotmoretomakeit
comprehensive.

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