Indian Social System/ Ram Ahuja

PART ONE: SOCIAL ORGANIZATION
1. Hiudu Philosophy: Continuity and Change 1-15
Hinduism and Hindus/1 Hindu Philosophy/4
Basic Tenets of Hinduism/5 Theological Ideas/Pollution and Purity/Hierarchy/Idol Worship/ Monolithic Character/Tolerance/Segregation/Non-violence
The Ashramas/8
The Punisharthas/8 Impact of Post-Vedic Traditions, Medieval Cultural Renaissance, Islam, and Contemporary Reform Movements on Hinduism/9 The New or Syndicated Hinduism/12
2. Unity in Diversity 16-21 The Diversity/16
The Nature of Diversities/16 Languages/Religions/Castes/Tribes/Races/Ethnicity
The Unity/19
PART TWO: THE FAMILY AND KINSHIP SYSTEM
3 . The Family System 22-74 Perspectives in Studying Family/22 Concept of Family/24 Forms of Family/24 Traditional (Joint) Family in India/27 Nature of Traditional Family/Characteristics of Traditional Family Changing Family Pattem/37 Nature of Change/Empirical Studies on Change/Change in Struc ture/The Emerging Trends/Neo-local Residence/Functional Jointness/ Equality of Individuals/Equal Status for Women/Joint Matu selection/Weakening of Family Norms/Causes of Preference for Specific Family Pattern/Functional and Dysfunctional Aspects of Change/Future of Traditional (Joint) Family Change in Intra-family Relations/52 Relations between Parents and Children/Relations between Husband and Wife/Power Allocation/Closeness/Emancipation of Wife/RelaVIII CONTENTS
tions between Daughter-in-Law and Parents-in-Law Forces of Change/62 Education/Urbanization/Industrialization/Change in Marriage Sys tem/Legislative Measures Family Disorganization/69
An Overview/70
4. The Kinship System 75-89 What is Kinship/75 Kinship Categories/75 Kinship Terminology/76 Mode of Use of Kinship Terms/Linguistic Structure of Kinship Terms/Range of Application of Kinship Terms Importance of Kinship/78 Features of Kinship in North and Central India/80 Kinship Structure in South India/82 Matrilineal Family/82 Matrilineal Joint Family Clan Organization and Marriage Rules/84 Comparison of Kinship System of North and South India/86 Kinship Organization in Eastern India/87
Resume/88
5. Status of Women 90-116
Women in Ancient India/90 Women in the Vedic and the Post-Vedic Periods/Women in the
Pauranic Period/Women in the Buddhist Period Women in the Medieval Period/94 Changes in the British Period Affecting Women's Status/95 Industrialization/Spread of Education/Social Movements Initiated by Some Enlightened Leaders/Grow^ of Women's Organizations/ Enactment of Social Legislation Women in the Post-Independence Period/100 Historical Method/Non-empLrical Case Study Method/Empirical Method of Assessing Interpersonal Power/Feminist Quantitative Re search Method/Empirical Quantitative and QualitativeQuestionnaire
Method Women and Employment/104 The Working Women/Work Motivations/Dual Role Satisfaction/ Role Adjustment Rights of Women/108 Social Laws/Economic Laws/Political Rights
Consciousness of Rights/111 Consciousness of Social Rights/Consciousness of Economic
Rights/Consciousness of Political Rights Plan of Action/113 Legal Remedies/Social Remedies/Economic Remedies
PART THREE: THE MARRIAGE SYSTEM 6. The Hindu Marriage 117-146
Concept of Marriage/l 17 Motivations in Marriage/119 Hindu Marriage: A Sacrament/120 Types of Maitiages/121 Polygyny/Polyandry Mate Selection/124 Field of Mate Selection/Endogamy/Exogamy/Gotra Exogamy/ Sapinda Exogamy/Cousin Marriage/Hypergamy/Party to Mate Selection/Criteria of Mate Selection/The Emerging Trend/ Marital Adjustment/138 Conflict-habituated Relationships/Devitalized Relationships/Passive Congenial Relationships/VitalRelationships/rotal Relationships ^Changes in Marriage System/141^ Marriage Legislation/141 The Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929/The Hindu Marriage Dis abilities Removal Act, 1946/TheHinduMarriage Validity Act, 1949/ The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955/The Special Marriage Act, 1954/The Hindu Widows Remarriage Act, 1856/rhe Dowry Prohibition Act
1961 7. Muslim and Christian Marriages 147-160 The Muslim Marriage/147 Stratification in Muslim Society/147 Aims and Objects of Marriage/148 The Marriage System: Characteristic Features/148 Dower (Mahr)l\5\ Muta Marriage/152
Divorce/153 Difference between Hindu and Muslim Marriages/156 Aims and Ideals/Features of the Marriage System/Nature of Mar riage/Marriage Relations Need for Change in Social Legislation/157 The Christian Marriage/158 y
The Stratification/158 The Objectives/158 Mate Selection and Marriage Rituals/158
The Features/159

PART FOUR: THE PROBLEMS OF MARRIAGE
8 . Age at Marriage 161-173 Marriage Age in Ancient India/161 Recent Trends in Age at Marriage/164 Measures Against Child Marriages/166 Suitable Age for Marriage:A Sociological Perspective /168
Divorce 174-198 Breaking up of Marriage/174 Divorce in Early India/175 The Legislation/176 Changing Attitudes Towards Divorce/178 Who Gets Divorce/178
Causes of Divorce/181 Theoretical Perspectives on Etiology of Divorce/183 Role Adjustment after Divorce/185 The Divorce Trends/188 Should Divorce be Permitted in Hindu Society/189 The Arguments Dysfunctional Aspect of Divorce/190 Functional Aspect of Divorce/193 Is Divorce a Social Problem/195
lO.Dowry 199-217 The Concept of Dowry/200 Dowry through Ages/201 Motivations in Dowry/204 Aspiration to Marry in High and Rich Family/Social Custom/Pres sures of the Caste System/Hypergamous Marriage System/False No
tion of Social Status/Vicious Circle Sociological Implications of Dowry/206 Economic Straits/Immorality/Psychological Crisis and Emotional Trauma/Lowering of Women's Status/Child Marriages/Affinal Rela tions/Dowry Murders The Legislation/213
Measures towards Abolition/214 Creating Public Opinion through Education/Initiative by the Youth/ Propaganda and Public Enlightment/Inter-caste Marriages *
11.Inter-Caste Marriage 218-227 The Inter-marriages/218 History of Inter-caste Marriage in India/218 Changing Attitudes toward Inter-caste Marriages/219
CONTENTS XI
Types of People who Marry in Different Castes/220 The Accultnrated Person/The Emancipated Person/The Adventurous Person/The Rebellious Person/The Marginal Person/The Promis cuous Person/The Detached Person/The Demoralized Person Factors Promoting Inter-caste Marriages/222 Residential Propinquity/Cultural similarity/Close association and common experiences/Recreational contacts/Emancipation from family control/Inefficacy of institutional control/Education (ideas in doctrinated) in public schools/Urbanization and industrialization/Self-hatred Reactions to Inter-caste Maniages/223 Adjustment in the New Family/224 In Language/In Food Habits/In Religious Sentiments/In Behaviour Pattern/In Economic Field PART FIVE: THE CASTE SYSTEM 12.Caste: Concept, Origin and Structure The Caste System: Three Perspectives/228 Structural and Cultural Concepts of Caste/229 P!i<;tp Vflr/ifl, Sub-Caste and Tribe/231 Caste and Varna/Caste and Sub-caste/Caste and Tnbe/Caste and
Class Characteristics of Caste/242 , o ^ n vti./ Characteristics (of Caste) as a System/Hierarchy Baserl on Btrril/ Commensal Restrictions/Compellitig Religions Sanctions onSocial Participation/The Outcaste Substratum/Characteristics (of Caste) p a Unit/Ascribed Status/Endogamy/Fixed Occupation/Caste Councils
^"^Traditional Theory/Brahmanical Theory/Racial Theory/Is Caste Sys tem a Unique Indian Phenomenon?/Occupational Theory/Ketkar's Theory/Senart's Theory/Hutton'sTheory ofMana 13.Changing Structure of Caste autl its Future 269-303 VedLo'!pr™BuddhistPeriod (4000-10(XI B.C.)/Btabmanieal Period (in00-li00B.C.)/MauryaPeriod(322-184B.C.)/Post-Manrya Period
n84 BC 606 AD.)/Harsh Vardhna and Other Periods (606-700 A D )^5pu^eriod (700-1200 A.D.)/Muslim Period (1200-1757 A.D.)/Pre-industrial British Period (1757-1918A.D.) ^ Fartors Moulding the Caste System/277 ^ Pre Aryan Food and Occupational TaboosTTribal Cohesion/The Aryan Desire for Racial Purity/Guild Perpetuation/Priestly Supremacy and Religious Dogmas/Migration
XII CONTENTS
Pre-independence Industrial Period (1919-1947 A.D.)/279
Industrialization/Urbanization Post-independence Period (1947-1993 A.D.)/281 Broad Changes in the Caste System
Functions of Caste/283 From the Point of View of an Individual/From the Point of View of Caste as a Group/Unit/From the Point of View of Society Demerits of the Caste System/288 It acts as a barrier to social progress/It thwarts political unity/It acts as a screen and justification for persistent anti-social conduct/It is responsible for the low status of women/It is responsible for the low status and unjust treatment of outcastes and lowcaste people Merits of the Caste System/291 Hindu life was given strong continuity by the religious basis of caste/ Arts and crafts were preserved through father-son apprenticeship/A pattern was provided to numerous competing groups to co-exist side by side with little or no conflict/A firm group solidarity and a sense of responsibility grew up within each caste/ Caste status lessened maladjustment of individuals in the society Present Structure of the Caste System/293
Future of Caste/298
14.Iiiter-Caste and Intra-Caste Relations and 304-321
Caste Conflicts
Inter-caste Relations/304 Commensal Relations/Marital Relations/Occupational Relations/So
cial Relations
Intra-caste Relations/310 Marital Relations/AJliances/Leadership Roles and Panchayat Pat
terns
Inter-caste Conflicts/315 Dominance of one caste over others/Exploitation of lower castes by higher castes/Barriers in mobility and achieving political power/ Competition for economic opportunities and acquiring symbols of high status
15. Jajmanl System The Concept/322
322-331
Jajmani Relations/323
Function and Roles/325
Norms and Values/326 Jajmani System: An Exploitative System/328 Changes in Jajmani System/330
16. Caste and Politics 332-351
Caste and Politics/332
Political Interest/Political Awareness/Identification with Political
Parties/Political Influence
Caste Organization and Political Systeni/334 Different Stages in the Use of Caste in Politics/335 Emergence of Elite on Caste Basis/337 Effect of Caste on Voting Behaviour/339 Use of Caste Support by Political Elite/341 Mobilization of Castes by Political Parties/343 People's Perceptions on the Use of Caste in Politics/346 Politicization of Castes or Use of Politics by Castes in Social Mobility/348
IT.Sanskritization and Westernization 352-361
Caste and Status Mobility/352 The Concept of Sanskritization/352 Sanskritization and Brahmanization/353 Features of Sanskritization/354
Factors Promoting Sanskritization/356 The Concept of Westemization/356 Scholars' Support to the Concepts/357 Perception of the Concepts/359 Usefulness of the Concepts in Understanding Social Change/359 l^.The Scheduled Castes 362-393 Sudras in Early Literature/362
The Scheduled Castes/364 The Strength of Scheduled Castes/365 The Degradation of Sudras/366 Ameliorative and Welfare Programmes/369 Development Strategies/373 Crimes Against Scheduled Castes/375 Evaluation of Welfare Schemes/376 Are Scheduled Castes Really Neglected or Pampered/377 Other Backward Castes/Classes/378 Arguments in Favour of the Mandal Report/381 Arguments Against the Mandal Report/382 ' The Reservation Policy/389 r Conclusion/392
PART SIX: SOCIAL CHANGE IN INDIA
19. Social Change and Development 394-4p The Concept of Social Change/394 ^
*
I
r
XIV CONTENTS
The Concept of Development/395 Models of Social Development/396 Capitalist Model/Socialist Model/Alternate Model of Development Adopted in India Goals of Social Change in India/397 Approaches to the Study of Social Change/398 Evolutionary Approach/Conflict Approach/Cultural Approach/ Structural Approach/Integrated Approach Planning and Social Change/402 ■» Nature and Direction of Social Change in India/404 Hinderances to Social Change/408 Forces of Tradition/Caste System/Illiteracy, Ignorance and Fear/The Values/The Power Elite/Population Explosion 20. Modernization 414-432 The Concept/415 The Characteristics/419 Measures of Modemization/420 Prerequisites of Modemization/420 Rejective Response/Disjunctive Response/Assimilative Response/ Supportive Response/Disruptive Response/Education/Communication/Ideology Based on Nationalism/Charismatic Leadership/ Coer cive Govermnental Authority Impact of the West and Modernization in India/423 Process of Modernization in India/426 Problems of Modemization/429 Modernization of Man/430 21.Economic Development and Social Change 433-445 Concept of Economic Development/433 Prerequisites and Barriers to Economic Development/434 Obstacles to Economic Development in India/435 Stages in Economic Development/437 Does Social Change Precede or Follow Economic Development/438 Sociological Problems of Economic Development/440 Economic Development, Planning and Social Change in India/442
Author Index Subject Index