CasteThis text examines the concept of caste, noting its origin in orientalist descriptions of Indian society, and showing how it made its way into social scientific discourse as a tool for the comparative analysis of social stratification. It reviews social scientists' accounts of caste in contemporary India, discussing the theoretical assumptions underlying such descriptions. The author takes issue with the view of caste which regards it as specific to Hindu India and makes a case for a comparative sociology concerned with social processes. |
Contents
Specificities and Comparisons | 1 |
What do Indians Have to Say about Caste? | 31 |
Consensus | 47 |
Copyright | |
2 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
Année Sociologique anthropologists applied areas argued behaviour Berreman Béteille Bouglé Bougléan Brahman Britain caste groups caste identity caste in India caste society caste system caste-race Chapter Christians claim colonial comparative concept of caste consensus contemporary context cultural Dalit debate Deep South defined descent described discourse discussion distinct dominant Dumont economic egalitarian endogamous ethnic groups fieldwork Fuller Gypsies Harijan hierarchy high caste Himalayan village Hindu holism Homo Hierarchicus identified ideology important Inden Indian caste Indian caste system Indian society individual institution interest Islam issue jati Kapadia karma kind Kolenda Kshatriya low castes modern Moffat Muslims notion occupation organization orientalist Pallars Parry particular political position practice principles purity and pollution Quigley race racial Rajputs refer regard rejection relations religious ritual purity Scheduled Caste sense Shah social science social scientists sociologists specific stratification term caste traditional untouchables urban values varna view of caste Weber western