Social stratification and power in caste system

Social stratification is a system through which society categorizes people, and ranks then

in a hierarchy. Stratification is a social characteristic, not a result of individual variations. There

are two types of stratification closed and open. Closed stratification is based on what you were

born with, allowing little mobility whereas open stratification allows more mobility as

individuals have the opportunity to change level by making the right choices.

Caste system is closed social stratification (Majumder, D.N, 1944). Stratification

continues from generation to generation. Stratification has an impact on income, education,

occupation, status, defense, and speed. So, why stratification occurs? Different theorist has come

up with different reasons ranging from structural functionalism, social conflict theory, and

symbolic interactionism.

This paper focuses on the caste system as a form of social stratification, employing Max Weber's

theories as a basis. I refer to Some theoretical consideration (Subedi, 2013) for my further

research on social stratification and Caste in Nepal.

 Caste and social stratification on the basis Max Weber theory

 Social stratification and power in caste system

Caste and social stratification on the basis Max Weber theory

Weber's idea of stratification hierarchy is based on three distinct factors: class, status, and

power. In a system, class refers to a person's economic position, status refers to a person's

prestige and power refers to a person's ability to get his way despite opposition from others.

Marx's understanding of stratification was criticized by Max Weber. Ownership of property, such

as factories or equipment, according to Weber, is merely a component of what determines a

person's social class. Social class for Weber included class, status and power.

Weber noted that social class is a function of power, which he defined as an individual's

ability to get their way in the face of opposition. According to him Power can come from other

resources like physical abilities, status not merely wealth. Caste is taken as status quo in Max

Weber's phraseology, where castes are perceived as hereditary groupings with a fixed ritual

position in a hierarchical structure. The position of a caste is determined under the caste system

not by economic or political privileges, but by the religious justification of authority.

In his classic work on the sociology of religion, Max Weber regarded India to be a "ideal

type" of his general theory of belief systems as major determinants of social and economic

structure. The formative forces behind caste, according to Max Weber, are not found in

economic or material conditions, but in ideology, which is religion, in the form of Hinduism. As

a result, Weber viewed caste as a distinct and extreme case of status groups. (Lunheim, 1993)

Rigorous caste endogamy, the religious idea of impurity, the idea of otherness and

inferiority in term of hierarchy was maintained to sustain identity making caste a closed

stratification system. The idea of Karma was the basic principle of cosmic reality in Weber's

synthetic construction of caste and Hinduism, where belief of reincarnation imposes strict
devotion to one's caste responsibilities and the hope of transcendental rewards in successive

reincarnations.

It's not just about economics and social inequities when it comes to social stratification;

it's also about belief. The cultural beliefs of a society inform us how to classify people and

characterize the inequities of a stratification system as acceptable, even fair. Beliefs are what

allow the social stratification system to function.

Social stratification and Power in Caste System

Nepal's caste system is based on Hindu Chaturvarnashram concept of India. Brahmins

(priests), Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (merchants, commerce, landowners), and Shudras

(manual laborers) are the four (Varnas) that make up the caste system. There are subcaste within

them. The caste which does not fall under them are considered untouchables. The caste system is

a social stratification system in which a person's caste position in the hierarchy not only defined

what jobs were allowed, but had control over their daily lives and outcomes. The entire system is

built on cultural beliefs, with caste being established as a right of birth and living within a

structure being viewed as Karma.

Caste systems have closed stratification systems where a person’s birth on lineage

determines social standing allowing no individual movement. Endogamy, restriction on physical

relations, living together, dining together, sitting together and a variety of other types of

interaction indicative of social inequality among caste which makes the mobility from one caste

to another caste is impossible (Majumder, D.N, 1944). The closed caste system of stratification

persists generation to generation because it requires endogamy and is founded on a set of strong

cultural and religious beliefs that establish caste as a right of birth and living within the structure

of your caste as a moral duty. This magnifies inequalities and strengthens the grip of those in

positions of power.

System of social stratification allocates power and privilege in the society in which it

occurs. In class system, there is mobility and one can achieve the power through hard works

where as in caste system the rigidity on mobility due to religious belief constricts mobility. There
will always be inequality if the belief persists. The belief of Karma has been internalized to the

point where thinking of inequality as fair is made justifiable (Subedi, 2013)

The caste system of social stratification gives authority and privilege to those at the top of

the hierarchy. Not only have that, but endogamy and caste-based restrictions made it difficult to

rise to positions of power. Only those in positions of authority will benefit from education, the

economy, prestige, and status. Power hierarchies prevail in caste systems, and in order to

demolish the system, it is necessary to break the religious notion on which caste system is laid

down (Ambedkar 1936).

Conclusion

The study shows that the caste system is a closed social stratification system that restricts

social mobility, resulting in inequalities and unequal power distribution among people. It takes

its base from Weber's theory of stratification, which states that power does not only come from

wealth, but also from prestige derived from other resources such as physical abilities, political

stances, and so on. However, in the caste system, individuals are assigned a position with limited

mobility and a set of social belief ideologies, making it difficult for individuals to maintain

power rather it sustains identity.

References

Weber, M. (1946). Class, Status, Party.

Lunheim, Rolf. (1993) Desert People: Caste and community – A Rajesthani Village. University

of Tronheim & Norsk Hydro AS.

Majumder,D.N.(1944) Races and Cultures of India

Subedi,M.(2013) Caste System: Theories and Practices in Nepal

Béteille, André (1965). Caste, Class and Power: Changing Patterns of Stratification in Tanjore

Village. California: University of California Press.

Ambedkar,B.R (1936) Annihilation of Caste.