Fundamental Social Institutions of India — sociology STD 11 Arts — Question
Gujarat BoardEnglish MediumSTD 11 ArtssociologyFundamental Social Institutions of India5 Marks
Question
Change in caste organization.
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Answer
The caste system in India was in a very dull form till the end of the Middle Ages.
Significant changes took place in the caste system in the British Raj.
British educational practice, social legalization, industrialization, urbanization, democracy and liberal thinking were important for these changes.
The process of caste-change has become much faster after the independence of the country.
The changes in the traditional features of the caste-organization are as follows.
$(1)$ The change in the partition of the room:
The importance of innate status decreased.
In the traditional caste system, a person was given status from birth.
The person had no choice about this status.
Even today, individuals get caste status from birth.
But these ranks have now become important due to the status of self-acquired positions of speech due to education, new occupation, income and power.
Hence the importance of innate status has diminished
Prominent culture erasure:
The role of caste panchayat was important in caste division.
The work of cultivating caste traditions was done by these caste panchayat.
The distinctive culture, lifestyle, language, dialect, dress, norms of their respective castes were different from those of other castes which intensified the division.
In the present times, due to education, globalization, westernization and modernization, the distinctive cultures of each caste are gradually being erased.
Caste panchayat weakened:
Caste panchayat controlled the behavior of their caste members.
At present, in addition to many factors, the powers of caste panchayat have been weakened due to laws such as prevention of caste disability.
Only caste members oppose strict restrictions on these panchayat.
In short, the growing importance of the status obtained instead of the innate status, the change in the role of caste panchayat and the collapse of the culture are erasing the division.
$(2)$ Changes in the social cortex:
The position of different groups of castes in India was unequal.
These unequal caste groups were arranged in ascending and descending order.
Religiously, the status of Brahmins was the highest and the lowest caste in all of India.
Location was determined at the local level by the status of the intermediate castes, land ownership, power and other criteria of society.
But in the present times, due to the restrictions of education, industrialization, urbanization, culturalization and laws, there have been great changes in the character of the caste system.
Today, people with skills, assets and income are at the top of the list, regardless of their caste.
$(3)$ Changes to restrictions on catering contact:
Some of the restrictions on eating in traditional conservative castes such as who eats what? Who to dine with? Whose hand is eating? Whose house to drink water from? Who to sit with Etc ...
Restrictions on catering have weakened in recent times due to education, social awareness, industrialization, urbanization, westernization, laws, media and culturalization.
Yet in India, especially in the villages, these restrictions are seen to some extent.
It will be eradicated like cities due to the influence of junk food and fast food.
$(4)$ Changes in civil and religious disabilities and special rights:
In the traditional Indian caste system, the lower castes were deprived of civil and religious rights.
The so-called higher authority has come under control due to the increasing prevalence, modernization, legalization and urbanization of education.
In India, the Prevention of Untouchability Act has paved the way for lower castes and upper castes to enjoy equal rights.
If any discrimination is maintained it is unconstitutional and the provisions of power are available for the same.
In short, in a democracy, such disabilities are almost eradicated due to egalitarian norms and laws.
$(5)$ Changes in occupation choice:
In traditional caste occupations, each caste member had to do the prescribed business.
Individuals of other castes were barred from entering such fixed occupations. In the present times, due to urbanization, industrialization, education, mechanization, new professional fields have developed which required new knowledge, skills and education.
It is now difficult to make a living on years old traditional / hereditary occupations.
That is why the relationship between caste and occupation has weakened.
$(6)$ Changes in restrictions on marriage:
Caste system Restrictions on marriage were more stringent.
Preference is given to caste, sub-caste or gotra.
Many changes have taken place in the marriage system today.
Education, modernization, urbanization and laws played an important role in this.
Among the laws in particular are the Social Marriage Act of $1954,$ the Hindu Marriage Act of $1955,$ the Prevention of Caste Disability Act.
Now the bonds of together, Gaam, Gol as well as sub-caste have been eased.
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