Class and Caste features

Class and Caste

Class

Social class has been a principle type of stratification since the emergence of class-based society, especially with the end of the communism in its involuntary process which is explained and analyzed by the Karl Marx and Engels in the later part of the 19^th century. The term, therefore, has taken important place in the sociological literature. If the caste system is found to be unique in India.The class system is universal in nature. Sometimes the word class is used to represent the group of professor, artists, engineer, doctor, students etc. The word class is used to refer the quality of the things which is good, better, best and so on. But the class is used in the sociology representing the kind of the social stratification than anything more.

According to Max Weber

Social class is the aggregate of the individuals who have the opportunities of acquiring the goods, the same exhibited standard of living.

The social class is a segment of the society with all the members of the ages and both sexes who share the same general status. Whenever the social intercourse is limited by the consideration of the social status by the distinctions between the higher and the lowers, there exists a social class. Social class is the aggregate of persons having essentially same social status in the given society. Marx defined a social class as all those people who share common relationship in the means of economic production. Those who own the means of the productions are the dominant class. They exercise the power because of the ownership of means of production. In any industrial society, the means of production includes the factories, and the machinery and the raw materials used for manufacturing the goods. Max called them the class of Bourgeoisie or capitalists or owner of the property. All those that work for the dominant class are the slaves they constitute the subordinate class, the relation between those classes is not only one of the dominance and subordination but also of the exploitation.

Social class is flexible and the open system. Social mobility is easier in class. If a man is born in one class it is not necessary to remain tin entire life in same class. Social class is divided into upper class, middle class, and lower class. People are divided into the various class through intelligence, property, income. Caste consists of the religious background, and everyone tries to follow caste duties.

Caste

The term caste is derived from the Spanish word casta that means the breed or lineage. The term caste was used to represent the division of the Indian caste system. The word caste also signifies the division or kind. The Sanskrit word of the caste is Varna which means color. The caste stratification of the Indian Society has had its origin in the chatuvarna system.ccording to the chatuvarna doctrine, the Hindu caste system is divided into the four main Varna. The Varna system which is prevalent in the Vedic period was mainly based on the labor and the occupation. The caste system owes its origin to the Varna system. The present caste system was degenerate from the original varna system.

Caste is the complex phenomenon which is difficult to define. According to C.H.cooley

When the class is somewhat strictly heredity we may call it caste.

The caste system is highly complex. Caste is the hierarchical division of the society and it is also the segmental division of the society. The caste system has imposed certain restrictions in the food habit of the members and they differ from the caste to caste. The caste system puts the certain restriction in the social relations too. The idea of the pollutant and the purity have explained and defined the boundary of the social relations between the social castes with the preordained untouchability. Restriction on the occupation is the another features of the caste system. Caste system imposes the restriction in the marriage too. Endogamy is a rule of the marriage in which the individuals have to marry within the boundaries of their group. Caste is the hierarchal division of the society based upon the chatuvarna doctrine of the Hindu philosophy dividing the society into four Varna. It was originated first in the Indian societies and deeply rooted in there.Caste cannot be changed by the individual's will and it is inherited by birth. Caste is divided into:

1. The Brahmin
2. The Kshettri
3. The vaishyas
4. The Shudras

Brahmin is regarded as the higher caste and there are the restrictions in their food habits. The Shudras are regarded as the lower caste and untouchables. Inter caste marriage is not allowed.

References

bhandari, Laxman P.fundamentals of sociology.kathmandu: Buddha Publications, 2014.

Bell,Daniel.The coming of post-industrial Society.New York:Harper Colophon Books,1947.

Gisbert,p.2004.Fundamentals of sociology.OrientLongman,India