Social Institutions: Continuity and Change — Sociology STD 12 Humanities — Question
CBSE BoardEnglish MediumSTD 12 HumanitiesSociologySocial Institutions: Continuity and Change4 Marks
Question
What changes did colonism bring about in the caste system?
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Answer
Scholars have agreed that caste underwent many changes during the colonial period. In fact what we know of caste is a result of colonialism.
British administrators began by trying to understand the complexities of caste in order to govern the country efficiently.
Some of these efforts were methodical and intensive surveys and reports on the customs and manners of various tribes and castes. The most important official effort to collect information on caste was through census. First begun in 1860s, the census became a regular 10-yearly exercise beginning from 1881 onwards.
1901 census under the direction of Herbert Risley was important as it collected information on the social hierarchy of caste i.e. social order of precedence in particular regions as to each caste in the rank order.
Consequence of Official Survey:
Hundreds of petitions were addressed to the Census Commissioner by representatives of different castes claiming higher position in the social scale and offering historical and scriptural evidence for their claims.
Scholars felt that this kind of intervention changed the institution. Before this intervention, caste identities were much more fluid and less rigid but once they were counted and recorded, caste began to take on a new life.
Another intervention by colonisers that changed the institution was the land revenue settlements and related arrangements. The land revenue settlements and related land arrangements gave legal recognition to the customary rights of the upper castes. These castes now became land owners rather than feudal classes with claims on produce of the land, or claims to tribute or revenue of various kinds.
Towards the end of the colonial era, the administration took steps for the welfare of the downtrodden castes referred to as the 'depressed classes'. Government of India Act of 1935 was passed which gave legal recognition to the lists or schedules of caste and tribe marked out for special treatment by the state.
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