Researchpaper-The-Paradigm-and-Practice-of-Pollution-in-Caste-System-in-Malabar (original) (raw)

CASTE SYSTEM IN KERALA SOCIETY

HISTORY RESEARCH JOURNAL, 2023

The extent of the caste system and its operations in Kerala could be understood by the restrictions imposed by caste. In Kerala, the caste system began as a rudimentary form of social stratification, which later developed into a highly differentiated form during Sangam. Each caste and even sub-castes enjoyed a unique position in the caste hierarchy, which was much more elaborate than in any other part of the subcontinent. The topmost position was occupied by Namboothiris, who enjoyed higher status in the society. The system of considering each group occupying different occupations as different castes and prohibiting them from practising Interdining and Intermarriage started in Kerala after the immigration of Aryans.

From Acharam to Knowledge: Claims of Caste Dominance in Twentieth-century Malabar

History and Sociology of India, 2015

Exploring the caste practices of Namboothiris (Kerala Brahmins) in the first half of the twentieth century, this paper analyses the transformation of Brahminical claims of superiority over other castes, in interaction with colonial knowledge practices. The paper maps the historical process by which claims of Brahminical superiority transformed from ritual to knowledge-from claims based on acharam (the daily practices of rituals) into a claim of possession of traditional knowledge. By analysing the upper caste world of Namboothiris, the paper explores the tension between emerging order of colonial knowledge and the existing order of acharam. The paper shows that until the reform movement in the 1920s, Namboothiris as a community were not part of either traditional or colonial knowledge practices. Even in the reform movement the attempt was not to wholeheartedly enter into the domains of knowledge but to incorporate the elements of acharam into the order of colonial knowledge.

HISTORY OF INDIAN CASTE SYSTEM AND ITS PREVALENCE POST-INDEPENDENCE

International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews (IJRAR), 2020

The caste system is prevalent in India since time immemorial. The Indian caste system is historically seen as a method of differentiation between people from different groups. The Indian Caste System is considered a closed system of stratification, which means that a person's social status is obligated to which caste they were born into. There are limits on interaction and behaviour with people from another social status (Sekhon 39). The caste system has been changed and altered time and again in the past. This research would limit its scope on studying the history of the Indian caste system and the prevalence of caste system post-independence till date. We study the history of the Indian Caste system in the first half, followed by the research question-Has there been any significant change in the caste system of India after independence till today? If so, how? 1.INTRODUCTION. Risley defines caste as "a collection of families or group of families bearing a common name; claiming a common descent from a mythical ancestor, human or divine; professing to follow the same hereditary calling; and regarded by those who are competent to give an opinion as forming a single homogeneous community" (Hutton 47). The Indian caste system is divided into four varnas. The two upper castes dominate over the lower castes and are consider ed to be superior. The Brahmins are at the top, followed by the Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. The Brahmin class is essentially defined by its supposed priority (as the class created first by the creator god), by knowledge of the Veda, and by the monopoly this class holds on the operation of sacrifice. These traits justify the social position of the class vis-à-vis others: they are predominant because they are prior, and they claim to stand outside of the power relations that govern social life for others because of their superior knowledge and sole possession of the ultimate "weapons," sacrificial techniques (Smith 48). There are certain characteristics of the Indian caste system with which discrimination and social stratification is fixed. Castes have other sub castes or jatis. People of these sub castes earned their livelihood from a particular occupation. For instance, Brahmins were the upper castes, but there were varying degrees of Brahmins such as Tamil Brahmins, Tanjore etc. "A society is characterized by such a system if it is divided into a large number of hereditarily specialized groups, which are hierarchically superposed and mutually opposed. It does not tolerate the principle of rising in the status of groups' mixture and of changing occupation". (Velassery 2) There are many rules and barriers a person needs to adhere to in order to breathe in the society. Not adhering to these rules and practices resulted in exclusion from the caste as well as from there own families. 2.HIERARCHY OF CASTE SYSTEM Hierarchy and occupational specialisation are one of the most important and major elements of the Indian caste system. Rules regarding endogamy and occupation were very strict. A person is not allowed to marry outside their own caste or sub caste. Every sub caste had an occupation and the person is bound to that particular occupation. A no tolerance policy was followed in mixing of higher castes with the lower castes. There were rules regarding the level of interaction between people of different castes. There was than the concept of purity and pollution. Mere touch of a Shudra or an untouchable to a person of a higher caste was termed as polluting the individual of the higher caste.

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN CASTE SYSTEM AND ITS IMPACT ON INDIA TODAY

The Indian Caste System is historically one of the main dimensions where people in India are socially differentiated through class, religion, region, tribe, gender, and language. Although this or other forms of differentiation exist in all human societies, it becomes a problem when one or more of these dimensions overlap each other and become the sole basis of systematic ranking and unequal access to valued resources like wealth, income, power and prestige. The Indian

Ethnography - Caste system - SECTION 3 ARTICLE 1 - FOR BEAM

The article presents an ethnography of caste system in Kerala from a comparative perspective. It begins with a personal narrative on the manifestation of caste in the fifties and sixties. Viewing caste as a system of stratification, the article then describes the manner in which it functioned in the ancient past and how flexibility existed within the system. It then goes on to explain the changing profiles of caste in the modern times and discusses how it is being played out in the present day socio-political life in Kerala. The last section of the article makes an attempt to look at the caste system in comparison with the racial relations in America. It is submitted that both in India and the U.S., questions of caste and race are intertwined with questions of economic justice and equal opportunity in the broadest sense.

The future of Caste System in India : An Introspection

PURVADEVA, Peer Revied Bilingual International Research Journal, 2022

The caste system categorizes people into various hierarchical levels, which determine and define their social, religious, and hegemonic standings within the society. The caste system has also maintained a nexus and a sense of community for caste members for more than 2,000 years. A classic example of the caste system is the one found in India, which has existed there for hundreds of years. The caste system in India was traditionally a graded hierarchy based on a purity-pollution scale; it has undergone many changes over the years. After India’s independence, there has been a de-ritualization of caste, and it has moved toward being a community based on affinity or kinship rather than representing a fixed hierarchy. The association of each caste with a distinct occupation has weakened considerably, and inter-caste marriages across different ritual strata, even crossing the Varna boundaries, are not uncommon. In present day society because of industrialization, urbanization, modern education system, modern means of transport and communication, remarkable changes have been experienced in features of caste system, such as occupation, marriage, food, drink, social intercourse etc. But at the same time there are some factors like emergence of political parties, method of election, constitutional provision for S.C., S.T. and other backward classes have gradually encouraged the problem of casteism in India. So, it is difficult to predict about the future of caste system in India. In this context, I am trying to find out the present position and future of Indian caste system. The aim of this paper is to understand the continuity and the changes in the caste system in India.

AN EMPIRICAL STUDY ON CASTE SYSTEM AND PRESENT IMPACT ON INDIAN SOCIETY.

ijetrm journal , 2022

The Indian Caste System is generally one of the fundamental measurements where individuals in India are socially separated through class, religion, district, clan, sex, and dialec(Noirot).Despite the fact that this or different types of separation exist in every human culture(Fárek), it turns into an issue when at least one of these measurements cover one another and turn into the sole premise of orderly positioning and unequal access to esteemed assets like riches, pay, influence and distinction(Noirot; Wolcott). The Indian Caste System is viewed as a shut arrangement of stratification, which implies that an individual's economic wellbeing is committed to which standing they were naturally introduced to.(Noirot; Wolcott; Verma et al.) There are constrains on communication and conduct with individuals from another societal position. This paper will investigate the different parts of the Indian station framework and its impacts on India today. (Noirot; Wolcott; Verma et al.; Fárek)The station framework is a characterization of individuals into four progressively positioned ranks called varnas. (Mahapatra)They are arranged by occupation and decide access to riches, influence, and benefit. The Brahmans, normally clerics and researchers, are at the best.(Mahapatra) Next are the Kshatriyas, or political rulers and troopers(Mahapatra; Nanda; Chu et al.). They are trailed by the Vaishyas, or shippers, and the fourth are the Shudras, who are normally workers, laborers, craftsmans, and hirelings. (Mahapatra; Nanda)At the specific base are those viewed as the untouchables(Nesfield). These people perform occupations that are viewed as unclean and contaminating, for example, rummaging and cleaning dead creatures and are viewed as outcastes. (Noirot; Wolcott; Verma et al.; Fárek; Fazeli Farsani et al.)They are not viewed as incorporated into the positioned standings.(Nesfield; Mahapatra)