Critical Approach

Louis Dumont
Main points
Single hierarchy, based on ritual status and not
on secular forces
Ranking of each caste in relation to the whole.
Higher ones encompass the lower ones
System of binary opposites where status
determined through pollution and purity
Ritual status determines rank in hierarchy plus
access to power
Dumont (contd)
System provides sustenance to each in
proportion to status
System exists only in India. No cross-
cultural comparison possible
G. D. Berreman

Challenges Dumonts basis: If sustenance
provided acc. Status, is it not
exploitation?
Sustenance of top provided by those in
bottom

Sees only positive aspect of caste system
Cross-cultural comparison can be made: Blacks
in USA, Aristocracy in Britain
Life chances are determined by birth in all
above cases
Being born in particular family is more
important than physical attributes
Different castes look at hierarchy differently
Brahmins may not be regarded as superior by
all (Gupta, Srinivas)
Dumont unjust to people of India for struggle
against caste
Joan Mencher
Caste based occupations not always prevalent
UP: Chamars/Jatavs not leather workers but
agricultural workers.
Nos. increase where demand for labour increases
Less untouchable castes in dry lands, more in
wet lands
Tamil Nadu: 18% SC but higher in rice growing
fertile regions
W. Bengal, Punjab more proportion of SC.
Southern Bengal has more SC than North
Bengal.
Top down approach wrong
Castes prevent formation of classes
(antagonistic groups). Lower castes
manipulated
M. N. Srinivas
Varna (colour): broad categories not real
effective units
Jati (group, sub-caste) more important.
Hierarchy not same everywhere.
Lingayats in Karnataka- anti-Brahmin
Dominant caste more important