Caste conflicts

 4 types
o Conflicts centering around Sanskritization
o Conflicts centering around exhibitory dominance
 In UP, Jats and Rajputs have fought with each other in search of superiority.
o Conflicts centering around self assertion
o Conflicts centering around reservation policy
 Gujjar protest in Rajasthan
 Patel agitation in Gujarat
 Some points
o Possibility of caste conflict was historically absent in Indian Society advocated by
Dumont (cultural hierarchy)
 Contradicted by MNS, Yogendra Singh who said that Brahmanical authority was
challenged by Kshatriyas, Vaishayas
 Rise of Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism to challenge the legitimacy of caste system
o A.Beteille says that caste conflicts has two dimensions
 Intra caste conflicts
 Inter caste conflicts
 Also says that caste conflict in India have moved from those centered around
identity to those centered around interest.
o TK Oomen rightly points out that caste conflict symbolizes the lower caste search for
equality and higher caste’s challenge to it.
o Triggered by political equation as well, advocated by Rudolph
 A politics of bargaining in which each caste bargains and empathizes with
immediate upper and lower caste in search of a consolidated front to gain
power.