Question

Write short note.

Characteristics of caste according to Dr. G. S. Ghurye

Answer 1

The characteristics of caste given by Dr. G. S. Ghurye are as follows:

1. Segmental division of society: Society is divided into various castes which are hereditary. The status of a person in caste-based society is not determined by the wealth he owns but it depends on the status of the caste in which he is born. Each caste is a well-developed social group and has its own traditional social status, occupations, customs, rules and regulations. Since membership is based on birth, mobility from one caste to another is impossible.
2. Hierarchy: According to Ghurye castes are graded and arranged into a hierarchy on the basis of the concept of ‘purity and pollution.’ Hierarchy is a scheme which arranges castes in terms of higher (or superior) and lower (or inferior) status, in relation to each other. The relative ranking of specific caste groups differs from one place to another.
3. Restriction on feeding and social intercourse: Each caste imposes restrictions on its members with regards to food and social intercourse. This also leads to separation or distance between castes.
4. Differential civil and religious privileges and disabilities: In a caste society, there is an unequal distribution of privileges and disabilities among its members. While higher caste people enjoy all privileges, lower caste people suffer from different kinds of disabilities.
5. Lack of unrestricted choice of occupation: Each caste or a group of allied castes is traditionally associated with a particular occupation. Occupations are hereditary and the members of a caste are expected to follow their traditional occupation.
6. Endogamy: Castes are divided into sub-castes and each sub-caste is an endogamous group. Every caste or sub-caste insists that its members should marry within the group.