TOPIC- FORMS OF SOCIAL STRATIFICATION –

CASTE SYATEM &

CULTURAL CONCEPT

Submitted by - Submitted to -

Soumya Ranjan Swain- 221210094 Dr. Jeebanjyoti Behera

Om Stuti Mishra- 221210095 Faculty, Dept. Agricultural

Extension

Alipsa Samal- 221210096

Sujal Sahu- 221210097

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, OUAT,
BHUBANESWAR
 CASTE SYSTEM

The term ‘caste’ is derived from the Portuguese word ‘casta’ meaning
lineage or breed or race.
Hindu caste system of India is an example of stratification of society
on the basis of caste. The ancient Aryan society was stratified into four
varnas; the Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras.

Definiton of Caste
1. Lundberg - ‘’A caste is a social category whose members are
assigned a permanent status within a given social hierarchy and whose
contacts are restricted accordingly.’’
2. A.G. Green – ‘’Caste is a system of stratification in which mobility up
and down the status ladder, at least ideally mayn’t occur.

Characteristics of Caste
1. It’s the most rigid and clearly graded type of social stratification.
2. An individual is born into the caste of his parent. Personal qualities
or ability can’t ascend a person to higher caste. Membership of caste is
unchangeable and unacquirable.
3. The customs, traditions, practices and rituals can’t be violated by the
members.
4. The caste system puts restrictions on the range of social relations.
Caste is an endogamous group where an individual has to marry
within his or her group.
5. In traditional society, occupations were very much associated with
the caste system. Each caste has its own specific occupation.
Occupations are hereditary.
6. In traditional society, lower cast people can’t enjoy certain civil and
religious facilities.
Function of Caste System
1. Institution of marriage The caste consideration is of utmost
importance in Hindu marriage. No marriage can be completed unless
the nearer ‘gotras’ have been avoided.
2. Political function
Caste acts as factor of voting behavior as well as political partition.
Currently, caste panchayats have become more active in some states
of India. e.g. Haryana
3. Religious function
According to Srinivas, all castes are under fold of Hinduism and they
are governed by the norms of Hinduism directly or indirectly.
4. Economic function
Jajmani system explains the functioning of caste in the village. The
literal meaning of Jajamni system is the relation of master and servant.
5. Ecological function
The members of the same caste always like to live separately
and distinctly from other castes. The houses of the same caste
cluster together and this clustering of houses reflects some
distinct ecological features.

Disadvantages of Caste System

1. Caste is hierarchically graded, each caste being graded
inferior to those above it and superior to those below it.
2. Caste system acts as an obstacle to national unity as well as
economic development of all sections of society.
3. Casteism acted as the major source of social inequality and
injustice.
4. Caste system gave birth to inhuman and immoral practice
of untouchability in Hindu society.
5. In the past caste system caused grave injustice to women.
 CULTURAL CONCEPT

Culture is a broad term that includes in itself all our our walks of life,
our modes of behavior, our philosophies and ethics, our morals and
manners, customs and traditions and different types of activities.

Culture : Definition
1. Tylor– Culture is that complex whole which includes knowledge,
belief, art, morals, law, custom and other capabilities and habits
acquired by man as a member of society.
2. Graham Wallas– Culture is an accumulation of thoughts, values and
objects. It’s the social heritage acquired by us from preceding
generation through learning.

Material Culture and Non-Material Culture

Material culture consists of manmade objects such as house, tools,
implements, food, clothing, technology and other material items .
Non-material culture consists of the words the people use, the
language they speak, the beliefs, values they cherish, habits, rituals,
ceremonies people follow or observe.

Characteristics of Culture
1. Culture is learned- Culture is learned through the process of
socialization.
2. Culture is transmitted- Culture is transmitted from generation to
generation.
3. Culture is diverse- It varies from society to society or country to
country.
4. Culture is universal as well as unique- It’s found in all societies with
its own specific cultural pattern.
5. Culture is shared- Customs, traditions, values, morals etc. are all
shared by people in society.
6. Culture is static as well as dynamic- Culture has permanence but it
changes over time. We find a gradual modification gradually.
7. Culture gives satisfaction- It’s defined as the process through which
human beings satisfy the wants.
Cultural Change
Cultural change includes all changes i.e. the modification or
discontinuance of existing ‘tried’ and ‘tested’ procedures transmitted
to us from culture of the past as well as introduction of new
procedures occurring in any branch of culture including science and
technology, art, philosophy etc.
It takes place through
(a) Discovery and Invention – Within a society.
(b) Diffusion and Borrowing – Between two societies.

Importance of Culture
1. Culture provides knowledge which is essential for physical, social
and intellectual existence of man. Culture preserves knowledge and
helps in transmission from one generation to another.
2. Culture defines attitude, vales and goals. Various issues such as our
religion, marriage, family planning etc are conditioned by culture. Our
values concerning private properties, fundamental rights etc. are
influenced by our culture.
3. Culture directs and confines the behaviour of an individual. It
rewards his noble works and punishes the ignorable ones.
4. Culture exercises a great influence on the development of
personality. No child can develop human qualities in the absence of
cultural environment.
5. Culture defines social situation and living condition. It determines
our food habit, dress code, behaviour pattern and other aspects in
daily life.
6. Culture also plays an important role in agriculture. Farming activities
are also controlled by the culture in rural area.

Social Control
It refers to the control of society controlling over the activities of
individual members of the society.
According to Ogburn and Nimkoff, social control refers to the patterns
of pressure which a society exerts to maintain order and established
rules.
Formal and Informal Control
The state enacts law, legislation, military force, police force,
administrative devices for the purpose of social control. Different
political, religious and other associations or institutions, constitute
control over the behaviour of the members. These are called formal
control.
Informal control includes public opinion, sense of justice, customs,
folkways, mores, religion, morality and other such agents. No specific
punishment would be given to the violators. Informal control is more
effective in primary social groups like family, neighbourhood, tribe,
rural community.