Part -2 Features, Functions, Dysfunctions of Caste System

                                                                                                                                Legal Aid on YouTube

                                                         Features of Caste System

Following are some features of Caste System which are as follows :

1- Segmental Division of Society :

                     Social Stratification is largely based on membership to a caste group is acquired by birth, on the basis of which people are ranked in relative to other caste groups. Caste System divides society into segments in a positive note which prevents the division of society into fragments.

2- Hierarchy :

                    Hierarchy indicates that various castes are categorized according to their purity and impurity of occupations. Just like ladder castes are ranked from higher to lower positions.

3- Civil & Religious Disabilities :

                   These comprise of restrictions based on marriage, dress, speech, rituals, etc and are placed on every caste group.

4- Endogamy :

                      Members of particular caste has to marry within their caste only. Inter- Caste marriages are prohibited means an individual is not allowed to marry outside their caste.

5- Untouchability :

                     Untouchability is a practice of ostracizing a group by segregating them from the mainstream by social untouchability which was corollary related to a caste system, where the untouchables are deemed to be impure and polluted.

6- Caste - based Restrictions :

                    The system of caste- based reservation in India comprises of a series of affirmative actions measure, such as reserving access to seats in the various legislations, to government jobs, etc.

Ex - Scheduled Castes are given 15% reservation in government services and educational institutions.

                                                     

                                                             Functions of Caste System 

Some of the functions of caste system are as follows :

1- The caste system in India provides social security to an individual.

2-  The social status of an individual is determined by his caste.

3-  Caste plays an important role in the process of socialization by teaching individuals about the culture, traditions, values and norms of their society.

4- Caste guides and directs an individual in his day to day life. Each caste has its own behaviour to be followed by its members.

5- Caste has efficiently organized the Hindu or Indian society without any chance to class fictions and fractions.

                                                              Dysfunctions of Caste System

Some of the dysfunctions of caste system are as follows :

1- Caste based politics which means political parties are using caste as their means to get votes.

2- Caste conflict, Caste tension & Caste rivalry are very common in society which sometimes leads to violence.

3- Caste system used to be hindrance to the progress of an individual.

4- It is the source of exploitation, discrimination & deprivation in the Indian society.

5- Even in 21st century in the few parts of the country, it is only the lower caste that are segregated by higher caste and are made to live in the outskirts of villages.