DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN CASTE AND CLASS?

EXAMINE THE ROLE OF CASTE IN POLITICS IN

RURAL INDIA.(WITHIN 1000 WORDS)

Differences between Class and Caste Systems!

In Max Webers phraseology, caste and class are both status groups. While
castes are perceived as hereditary groups with a fixed ritual status, social
classes are defined in terms of the relations of production. A social class is a
category of people who have a similar socio-economic status in relation to
other classes in the society. The individuals and families which are classified
as part of the same social class have similar life chances, prestige, style of
life, attitudes etc.
In the caste system, status of a caste is determined not by the economic
and the political privileges but by the ritualistic legitimation of authority. In
the class system, ritual norms have no importance at all but power and
wealth alone determine ones status (Dumont, 1958).
Class system differs in many respects from other forms of stratification
slavery, estate and caste system. In earlier textbooks such as written by
Maclver, Davis and Bottomore, it was observed that caste and class are polar
opposites. They are antithetical to each other. While class represents a
democratic society having equality of opportunity, caste is obverse of it.
Following are the main differences between class and caste systems:
1. Castes are found in Indian sub-continent only, especially in India, while
classes

are

found

almost

everywhere.

Classes

are

especially

the

characteristic of industrial societies of Europe and America. According to

Dumont and Leach, caste is a unique phenomenon found only in India.

2. Classes depend mainly on economic differences between groupings of

individualsinequalities in possession and control of material resources
whereas in caste system non-economic factors such as influence of religion
[theory of karma, rebirth and ritual (purity-pollution)] are most important.
3. Unlike castes or other types of strata, classes are not established by legal
or religious provisions; membership is not based on inherited position as
specified either legally or by custom. On the other hand, the membership is
inherited in the caste system.
4. Class system is typically more fluid than the caste system or the other
types of stratification and the boundaries between classes are never clearcut. Caste system is static whereas the class system is dynamic.
5. In the class system, there are no formal restrictions on inter-dining and
inter-marriage between people from different classes as is found in the caste
system. Endogamy is the essence of caste system which is perpetuating it.
6. Social classes are based on the principle of achievement, i.e., on ones
own efforts, not simply given at birth as is common in the caste system and
other types of stratification system. As such social mobility (movement
upwards and downwards) is much more common in the class structure than
in the caste system or in other types. In the caste system, individual
mobility from one caste to another is impossible.
This is why, castes are known as closed classes (D.N. Majumdar). It is a
closed system of stratification in which almost all sons end up in precisely
the same stratum their fathers occupied. The system of stratification in
which there is high rate of upward mobility, such as that in the Britain and

United States is known as open class system. The view that castes are
closed classes is not accepted by M.N. Srinivas (1962) and Andre Beteille
(1965).
7. In the caste system and in other types of stratification system,
inequalities are expressed primarily in personal relationships of duty or
obligationbetween lower- and higher-caste individuals, between serf and
lord, between slave and master. On the other hand, the nature of class
system is impersonal. Class system operates mainly through large-scale
connections of an impersonal kind.
8. Caste system is characterised by cumulative inequality but class system
is characterised by dispersed inequality.
9. Caste system is an organic system but class has a segmentary character
where various segments are motivated by competition (Leach, 1960).
10. Caste works as an active political force in a village (Beteille, 1966) but
class does not work so.

Q.02 I
Assess the importance of the 73rd Amendments to the proper functioning of
Panchayati Raj in India?

The Amendment Act has added part IX to the Constitution of India entitled
as Panchayats. The part consists of provisions from Article 243 to 243-0. A
new schedule called as Eleventh Schedule lists 29 functional items that
panchayats are supposed to deal with under Article 243-G. The basic
provisions of the Act are divisible into compulsory provisions and voluntary
arrangements.
The provisions which the state statutes will have to provide for are:

(1) Creation of a State Elections Commission to conduct elections to PRIs,

(2) In order to review the financial position of the PRIs, each state to set up
a State Finance Commission for five years.
(3) Tenure of PRIs fixed at five years and, if dissolved earlier, fresh elections
to be held within six months,
(4) Creation of a three-tier Panchayati Raj structure at the zila, block and
village levels,
(5) The minimum age for contesting elections to PRIs to be 18 years,
(6) Reservation for women in panchayats (chairman and members) up to
one-third seats,

(7) Reservation of seats for SC/ST in panchayats (chairman and members)

in proportion to their population,
(8) Indirect elections to the post of chairman at the intermediate and apex
tiers,
(9) All posts at all levels (with two exceptions) to be filled by direct elections,
and
(10) Organisation of gram sabhas.

These voluntary provisions vary from state to state:

(1) Voting rights to MPs and MLAs in these bodies,

(2) Reservation for backward classes,
(3) Financial powers,
(4) Autonomy of the panchayats, and
(5) Devolution of powers to perform functions of the Eleventh Schedule and
planning.
The Eleventh Schedule of the Act enumerates 29 subjects which fall in the
purview of the panchayats. The Act has refrained from putting those into the
Seventh Schedule of three lists for the simple reason that states are free to

determine the Panchayati Raj activities and adjust this Eleventh Schedule as
per situations and resources. The Schedule is quiet flexible and exhaustive.

The PRI can make rules, regulations and administer them by creating
services and charging tax, cess, octroi, etc., in lieu of these functional
services. The Tenth Finance Commission suggested grants-in-aid for the local
bodies from state exchequers to supplement their efforts. The panchayati
institutions can take policy decisions in the areas like land reform, ecology
preservation, rural industries and farming. The PR institutions have been
accepted as the implementing agency of the state governments.

Q.02 II
What are the functions of Gram Sabha? What are its powers?

Gram Sabha is a key factor in making the Gram Panchayat play its role and
be responsible.It is a place where all plans for the work of the Gram
Panchayat are placed before the people.Gram Sabha prevents the
panchayats from doing wrong things like misusing money on favouring
certain people.It plays an important role in keeping an eye on the elected
representatives.The
construction
and
maintenance
of
water
sources,road,drainage,school building and other common sources.Levying
and collection of local taxes.Executing Governmental schemes related to
generation of employment in the village.
The main work allocated to the Gram Sabha are the consideration of the
annual statement of accounts, and auditing report of the Gram Panchayat,
the administrative report of the preceding year, the programme of work for
the ensuing year, the taxation proposals and any other specific scheme of a
developmental nature involving community service, and voluntary labour.
Panchayat Act of a state usually provides that the Sabha shall at its first
meeting consider the budget prepared by the Gram Panchayat and at its

second meeting considers the reports of the working of the Gram Panchayat
and draws out development plans for the Sabha area.
In Orissa, Palli Sabha can recommend to the Gram Panchayat the
development work which should be undertaken for execution and also
suggests the imposition of enhanced labour-tax on the able-bodied persons
living within the Gram Panchayat area. The Gram Sabha, constitutes the
very base of Panchayati Raj system and as such is a vital institution capable
of exerting a big influence on the Gram Panchayat.

Q.03 I
Dalits in Rural India

Article 46 of the Indian Constitution says,"The State shall promote with

special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker section of
the people, and in particular, of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled
Tribes, and shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of
exploitation."

The Scheduled Castes (Dalit) constitute more than 70% of the total
population of Orissa as per census 2011. Pana, Dom, Ganda, Ghasi, Hadi,
Kandara, Bauri, Gokha, Dhoba are treated most socially and economical
backward schedule castes in Odisha. These sub caste are socially
untouchable, socially, economically, culturally and politically backward and
marginalized as compare to other groups in Odisha.

Q.03 II
Kinship

Kinship is the relation by the bond of blood, marriage and includes kindered
ones. It represents one of the basic social institutions. Kinship is universal
and in most societies plays a significant role in the socialization of individuals
and the maintenance of group solidarity. It is very important in primitive
societies and extends its influence on almost all their activities.A.R Radcliffe
Brown defines kinship as a system of dynamic relations between person and
person in a community, the behavior of any two persons in any of these
relations being regulated in some way and to a greater or less extent by
social usage.
Relation by the bond of blood is called consanguineous kinship such as
parents and their children and between children of same parents. Thus son,
daughter, brother, sister, paternal uncle etc are consanguineous kin. Each of
these is related through blood. Kinship due to marriage is affinal kinship.
New relations are created when marriage takes place. Not only man
establishes relationship with the girl and the members of her but also family
members of both the man and the woman get bound among themselves.
Kinship includes Agnates (sapindas, sagotras); cognates (from mother's
side) and bandhus (atamabandhus, pitrubandhus, and matrubandhus).

Q.03 III

Forms of Marriage
The Hindu community has been giving great importance for marriage since
time immemorial. There are different forms of marriage

Brahma Vivaha is where a father marries his daughter to a learned

man of good moral character.

Asura Vivaha is marriage by paying bride price.

Rakshasa Vivaha is by capture or abduction without obtaining the

consent of a girl or her parents.

Gandharva Vivaha is based on mutual love.

Prajapatya Vivaha is where no ceremony is performed but the groom

is honoured.