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Recent Changes in Dominant Caste!
The dominant caste is still continuing in India. Only its nature has undergone some changes.
Their traditional authority due to ritual purity is gradually weakening. At present, the introduction of adult franchise, electoral politics and Panchayati Raj have brought about profound changes in dominant caste.
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The traditional forms of power and dominance are being replaced by the new forms of political power and influence.
The phenomenon of dominance on power of one caste over another is a key factor in the maintenance of social structure of caste. But this may be added that this stability is not without continued tensions which keep the balance of power among caste at the precarious level.
Traditionally, when modern constitutional rights were not available to all castes, victims of dominant caste would always take shelter behind other families of dominant caste. Though there are different factors which are responsible to make the caste dominant, but deviations are also found from different studies.
Some of these studies are:
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1. K.L. Sharma has conducted a study on Brahmins of a village near Kanpur and found that economically better caste groups are considered as dominant and he says that the numerical strength and the high ritual status both are overpowered by economic status.
In his findings he observed that the Bredimins of that village are both numerically and ritually higher but they are not considered as dominant as they are relatively poor. Their economic position in the class hierarchy is in the fifth place.
2. William H. Wiser has conducted a study in 1963 in the village Karimpur of Elwa distinct of U.P. He found that Brahmins of that village are considered as dominant because they controlled maximum lands of that village.
3. Another study conducted by Oscar Lewis in 1955 and mentioned his findings in his book “Village India” that Jats of Rampura village near Delhi, control other castes including Brahmins as they control means of production.
4. M.N. Srinivas has conducted a study and found that:
(a) In Rampura village near Mysore that it is not necessary to consider higher caste groups as dominant caste. Other caste groups may be considered as dominant caste.
(b) Dominant caste has multiple functions. In the first case, the Okkaligas act as dominant caste. They are considered as master of the client, landowners, tenants, creditors to their village in debtor employer labourers. They represent the village to the outsiders and even within the village they rule over Brahmins arid only formal respect is given to the Brahmins.
These Okkaligas are so powerful that:
(a) They can also punish the Brahmins.
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(b) They can interfere in the internal matter of other castes.
From the different studies one thing is clear that the members of dominant caste cannot behave as they like. It is because they are dependent upon the lower caste people. From a study, it is found that Brahmins of Kumbhapettai village punish their own caste people if anybody violates any code of conduct towards other castes.
In Northern India, study on Rajputs reveals that Rajput who misbehaved a sweeper also punished by the other Rajputs due to strong opposition of sweeper.
So there are two main conclusions:
(1) Dominancy is based on dependency.
(2) No single factor is always responsible to make a caste dominant.
The influence of dominant caste or the role of dominant caste is visible in all areas of social life. It exercises its power in every field of life.
In Social field:
The members of the dominant caste of a particular locality work as guides of pluralistic culture and value-system. They always exercise their control not to overtake the traditional occupation of each other. Anyone who violated the norms and values of hereditary occupation was severely punished by them in form of infliction of physical pain, out-casting etc.
The imitation of life-style of higher caste by a low caste people is also considered as an offence. Mostly the dominant caste leaders were socially conservative.
In Economic field:
The members of dominant castes are generally more educated and are engaged in profitable occupation. Due to their dominant position In the society they exploit all the developmental sources in their favour. The real benefits of developmental plans and programmes go to them directly or indirectly. In this way they control the rural economy.
In Political field:
In political field the dominant caste affects the patterns of political mobilization.
Changes of traditional power can be done in two ways:
(a) Through the formal voting behaviour.
(b) By making subject castes politically independent.
With the coming of adult suffrage the numerical strength has become a significant factor in making caste politically important. However, a great deal of change has already taken place in the formation and role of dominant caste. Their traditional authority is gradually fading away.
The discussion of dominant caste can be concluded as under:
(a) The concept of dominant is highly empirical.
(b) Now the function and dominancy of the dominant caste have been decreased.
(c) Various factors are there to limit the Influence of dominant caste.
The factors are:
(i) Reservation facility for SCs and STs.
(ii) Decentralization of power.
(iii) Introduction of Panchayati Raj
The influence of dominant caste or the role of dominant caste is visible in all areas of social life. It exercises its power in every field of life. However, now-a-days, in some villages the influence of dominant caste is observable and also it can be experienced.