An Analysis of Correlation between Caste & Class

INTRODUCTION

Throughout history some people have had ‗more wealth, more prestige, more influence over others, or more of something else that was highly valued and relevel scarce in given society (Abrahamson, 1976). SOCIAL STRATIFICATION CAN BE TRACED FOR BACK IN RECORDED HISTORY. Most past societies and all societies today are socially at ratified and this phenomenon shows no sign of disappearing in the foreseeable future although social stratification is virtually universal, the various systems of stratification are not alike. Throughout history, stratification has assumed a variety of forma and even in today‘s world, there are important differences in the ways in which societies are stratified. There are mainly two types of social stratifications systems: Closed and ‗Open; in a closed system a person‘s status is determined at birth and remains with humor her throughout life. A system of this type is called a ‗caste‘system.in a open system people can change their statuses through their own efforts or failings. A system of the open type is called a ‗class‘ system. Thus seems that caste and class are two distinct entities but here we ‘II try to show creation between both. It is well known that this has been a subject of much discussion since long time that are most and the same or do they refer to different. Categories what kind do relationship exists between caste and class such another question regarding stratification of India society have exercised the mind of scholars for pretty long time. And naturally a number of views are put forth to explain the phenomenon. The traditional Indian society is characterized by status summation where a person‘s birth in a particular caste sums up his other positions (Punit, 1982) .In such a system a person who has a low status in caste hierarchy also has low status in other hierarchies of society such as economic or political .thus the fact that there is a close correspondence between caste status and socio–economic status has been recognized. This is the position even modern. Beteille (1966) found considerable congruence between caste, class and power in Tripura. cohn (1961) found that in Madhopur, the high caste thanks enjoyed social , economic and political dominance. Bailey (1957) also found that in Orissa, division of wealth and political power the caste hierarchy. Even the communists have recognized this fact. They maintain that in a society like India which is in the traditional stage of change from agricultural economy to industrial economy there is certain amount of intermingling between caste and class and that caste is the main from through

Which class manifests itself? This fact seems to have been accepted at the government level also. The various state governments and also the central government, while making provisions for what are called ―backward classes‖ have mistily applied caste criterion and not economic criterion. When even whenever a reference is made to backward classes even in scholarly works, it always means position of an individual. But there are other who have contended that class and caste are two distinct entities and that they should be treated as such. Guryev (1961) writing about this relationship observed that in a caste system, the of a person depended not on his wealth as in a class system, but on the traditional importance of the caste in which he was born. Gait (1975), argued that‘ the division into castes has no direct relation with the division into classes. The castes came into existence independently without regard to the classes. Those who subscribe to this view opine that birth and endogamy are vital in determining caste while in the formation of class, these do not play such an importance role. However, there are other who have suggested a via media approach. They maintain that distinction between caste and class is a matter of degree rather than of kind. They place both class and caste at two extremes of a continuum. While class system presents a relatively open, mobile and competitive society, Having thus established the fact that the distinction between caste and class is a matter of degree rather than of kind, there is a considerable correlation between these two forms of stratification in India society. At last wearer agree with the view of Y. Singh that caste and class is a coincide in India.

1. Abrahamson, Mark Mizruchi Ephraim. M&Hornung Carlton. A.- 1976 stratification and mobility. 2. Beteille, F.G ANDRE -1966 CASTE CLASS AND AND POWER

3. BAILEY, F.G -1957, CASTE AND THE ECONOMIC FRONTIER 4. BLUNT, E.A.H 1946,THE CASTE SYSTEM IN INDIA. 5. COHN, BERNARD, 1975 CASTE, CLASS AND POLITICS. 6. COHN, BERNSRD ,1961CHANGING STATUS OF A DEPRESSED CASTE. 7. DAHLMAN, BENARD, 1961 CHANGING STATUS OF A DEPRESSED CASTE. 8. GHURYE, G.-1961, CASTE CLASS AND OCCUPATION.

10. Hulton, J.H. 1946, CAST IN INDIA.

11. KETKAR, S.V-1946, CASTE IN INDIA 12. MAYER , KURT B.& BUCKLEY, WALTER- 1970 CLASS AND SOCIETY. 13. MAZUMDAR AND MADAN – 1956 AN INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY 14. PUNIT, A.E.- 1982 PROFILES OF POVERTY IN INDIA 15. SRINIVAS, M.N 1970 SOCIAL CHANGE IN MODERN INDIA.

Lecturer, Department of Education (Padagogy Social Science), Dhanbad Teacher Training College, Nirsa, Dhanbad, Jahrkhand