184 Chapter-3 Indian Society and Inter-caste Marriage As we all know, inter-caste marriage was considered to be a severe taboo for Hindus and was considered to be sinful by almost all castes and there was complete societal ban on such marriages.However for ruling caste/family it was not considered to be a sinful act. G.S. Ghurye 1 , the father of Indian sociology has defined six basic features of caste which are as under:- 1. Segmental Division of society; 2. Hierarchy; 3. Restriction of feeding and social intercourse; 4. Civil and Religious disabilities and privileges of the different sections; 5. Lack of unrestricted choice of occupation; 6. Restriction of Marriage. These are the six characteristics of caste system. As can be seen from above, restriction of marriage was and is also one of the basic features of the caste. Not only inter-caste marriages were banned and prohibited but even inter-varna marriages too were discouraged by the Hindu scriptures and its ancient, medieval and modern philosophy. In order to discourage inter-varna or inter-caste marriages, various types of degradations were laid down for the progeny of such parents who had violated the societal norms and entered into wedlock with person of caste which was different than his or her own caste or varna. See the status of the children of such inter-varna or inter-caste marriages ascribed by the religious tenets as under 2 :-
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184
Chapter-3
Indian Society and Inter-caste Marriage
As we all know, inter-caste marriage was considered to be
a severe taboo for Hindus and was considered to be sinful by almost all
castes and there was complete societal ban on such marriages.However
for ruling caste/family it was not considered to be a sinful act. G.S.
Ghurye1, the father of Indian sociology has defined six basic features of
caste which are as under:-
1. Segmental Division of society;
2. Hierarchy;
3. Restriction of feeding and social intercourse;
4. Civil and Religious disabilities and privileges of the
different sections;
5. Lack of unrestricted choice of occupation;
6. Restriction of Marriage.
These are the six characteristics of caste system. As can be seen
from above, restriction of marriage was and is also one of the basic
features of the caste. Not only inter-caste marriages were banned and
prohibited but even inter-varna marriages too were discouraged by the
Hindu scriptures and its ancient, medieval and modern philosophy. In
order to discourage inter-varna or inter-caste marriages, various types
of degradations were laid down for the progeny of such parents who
had violated the societal norms and entered into wedlock with person
of caste which was different than his or her own caste or varna. See the
status of the children of such inter-varna or inter-caste marriages
ascribed by the religious tenets as under2:-
185
Table No.3-1
Progeny of caste system
Sr.No. Man’s Varna Woman’s Varna Status or Varna of the child
1 Shudra Brahmin Chandal
2 Shudra Vaishya Ayogav
3 Brahmin Shudra Parashav or Nishad
4 Brahmin Vaishya Ambastha
5 Vaishya Shudra Apasad Shudra
6 Kshatriya Vaishya Apasad
7 Brahmin Kshatriya Apasad
Thus the above down gradation of children is prescribed by the
Hindu religious scriptures in order to discourage such marriages. The
above marriage system not only discourages inter-caste or inter varna
marriages but penalises the innocent children born of such marriages.
The Chandals are invariably described as the offspring of a Shudra father
and a Brahmin mother. The references to the Chandals in the Yajurveda
clearly show them to be a degraded people.3 So a Hindu couple entering
into such marriage will think thousand times before taking such a
decision for such marriage as normally no man and woman would like
to see the degradation of their children. Dr. Ambedkar welcomed the
step of inter-caste marriage as revolutionary as it directly attacks the
most pertinent characteristics of caste that is endogamy on which the
caste stands.
In this study Scholar has tried to see the responses of people of
different caste pertaining to the topic of study. So he has selected
respondents from different castes as under :-
186
Table No.3-2
Caste-wise respondents
Sr.No. Cates Urban Rural Total
1 Brahmin 51 7 58
2 Kshatriya 79 11 90
3 Vaishya 59 2 61
4 OBC 80 12 92
5 Patel 60 10 70
6 SC/ST 38 2 40
Total - 367 44 411
Preliminary information about the Respondents:-
It will be appropriate and most pertinent to know about the
background of the respondents so far as their age, education, marital
status, occupation, number of persons in family, whether any inter-caste
marriage has taken place in the family, whether any Governmental
assistance is taken for such marriage, how is their marital life? Whether
they faced any problem at the time of such marriage? The most important
among them all is their own belief or perception as to which caste they
belong to and to examine the Sociologist Srinivas concept of
Sanskritization that means consider them higher than what they really
are and try to gain and garner societal support for their such mindset
and try to adopt the culture of the higher castes in order to raise their
own status and identify themselves with the upper castes of the society.
If we see age-wise distribution of respondents than we find that
quite a large number of them are young respondents from 18 to 30 years
of age i.e. the younger generation, respondents from Brahmins in urban
area is 33.33% and from rural area is 14.28%, Kshatriyas from urban
187
area in this age group is 24.05% and from rural area is 27.27%, Vaishyas
from urban area is 37.28% and none of this age group from rural area,
OBCs from urban area is 46.25% and from rural area is 33.33%, Patels
from urban area is 35% and from rural area is 30% and SCs/STs from
urban area is 13.15% and from rural area is nil.
From thirty one to forty years of age - Brahmins from urban area is
59.27% and from rural area is 28.57%, Kshatriyas from urban area is
30.37% and from rural area is 27.27%, Vaishyas from urban area is
27.11% and from rural area is 100%, OBCs from urban area is 30%
and from rural area is 25%, Patels from urban area is 31.66% and from
rural area is 30% and SCs/STs from urban area is 5.26% and from rural
area is nil.
From forty one to fifty years of age - Brahmins from urban area is
17.64% and from rural area is 14.28%, Kshatriyas from urban area is
27.84% and from rural area is 18.18%, Vaishyas from urban area is
20.33% and from rural area is nil, OBCs from urban area is 18.75%
and from rural area is 41.66%, Patels from urban area is 21.66% and
from rural area is 30 % and SCs/STs from urban area is 10.52% and
from rural area is 50%.
From fifty one to sixty years of age - Brahmins from urban area is
1.96% and from rural area is 28.57%, Kshatriyas from urban area is
15.18% and from rural area is 27.27%, Vaishyas from urban area is
15.25% and from rural area is nil, OBCs from urban is 2.5% and from
rural area is nil, Patels from urban area is 10% and from rural area is 10%
and SCs/STs from urban area is 23.68% and from rural area is 50%.
From sixty one to seventy years of age - Brahmins from urban area
is 5.88% and from rural area is 14.28%, Kshatriyas from urban area is
188
1.26% and from rural area is nil, Vaishyas and OBCs- none in this
category, Patels from urban is nil and from rural area is 10% and SCs/
STs from urban area is 31.57% and from rural area is nil.
From seventy one to eighty years of age - Brahmins from urban
area is 1.96% and from rural area is nil, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and OBCs
none in this category, Patels from urban area is 1.16% and from rural
area is nil and SCs/STs from urban area is 13.5% and from rural area is
nil.
From eighty one to ninety years of age – Brahmins, Kshatriyas,
Vaishyas, OBCs and Patels none in this category but 2.63% urban
respondents are there in this category from SCs/STs from urban area
and none from rural area.
From ninety one to hundred years of age - Only one Kshatriya from
urban area is there who constitutes 1.26% and from rural area is it nil
whereas none from rest of the castes i.e. Brahmin, Vaishya, OBC, Patel
and SCs/STs comes in this category.
The above statistics indicate that longevity among SCs/STs is the
highest whereas OBCs and Vaishyas, the same is the lowest as compared
to other castes. The Vaishyas are more or less living a sedentary life in
their occupation, whereas the evil of intoxication among the OBCs is
the highest which tend to shorten their lives.
Let us have a look at respondents’ educational background.
2.63% Scheduled Caste’s respondents have received the highest
educational qualification. There are 13.15% Doctors (MBBS) from
Scheduled Castes whereas in OBCs it is only 2.5%, in Patels it is 3.33%,
in Vaishyas it is 5.08%, in Kshatriyas it is 3.79% and none from Brahmins.
All the Doctors are from Urban areas and none from the rural areas.
189
Even 13.15% Scheduled Castes are Post Graduates whereas there is
none from the Vaishyas, Patels and OBCs, whereas only 6.32%
Kshatriyas are Post Graduates, 13.72% Brahmins are Post Graduates
but this is against their total 51 number of respondents. If we workout
percentage as per real number of respondents, again the Scheduled Caste
is on the top. All Post Graduates are from urban areas except one
Kshatriya from the rural area.
If we compare the graduate level of education among all respondents
we find picture as under:-
In the Arts stream, the Scheduled Castes’ education level is the
highest i.e. 39.47% from urban area and 50% from rural area, followed
by Kshatriyas i.e. 16.45% from urban area and 18.18% from rural area,
OBCs 13.75% from urban area and 16.66% from rural area, Vaishyas
11.86% from urban area and none from rural area, Patels 10% from
urban area and 20% from rural areas. Lowest percentage is of Brahmins
i.e. 7.84% from urban and 28.57% from rural areas.
The percentage of Commerce Stream of graduation of all castes is
as under:
The Vaishyas are top in this stream with 30.50% from urban area
and 50% from rural area, next come Brahmins 23.52% from urban area
and 14.28% from rural area, third comes Kshatriyas with 15.18% from
urban area and 9.09% from rural area, fourth comes Patels with 11.66%
from urban and 20% from rural area, fifth comes SCs/STs at 10.52%
from urban area and 50% from rural area and last comes the OBCs with
7.05% from urban and none from the rural areas.
In Science stream, Patels come first with 16.66% from urban and
none from rural areas, second comes Vaishyas with 8.47% from urban
190
area and none from rural areas, third comes Brahmins with 7.84% from
urban areas and 14.28% from rural areas, fourth comes OBCs with
6.25 from urban areas and none from rural areas, fifth comes SCs/STs
with 2.63% from urban area and none from rural areas whereas last
come the Kshatriyas with 1.26% from urban area and 18.18% from the
rural area. In rural area, Kshatriyas are the highest in Science graduation
as compared with all other Castes. If we see overall picture of education
among respondents then we find that most of the higher castes (Brahmins)
are in prestigious science stream. It means they will get better opportunity
for development in their life.
None of the respondent is illiterate. In Primary Education category
i.e. Standard one to seven, Brahmins are nil, Kshatriyas 1.26% from
urban and 9.09% from rural, Vaishyas 1.69% from urban and none from
rural, Patels 3.33% from urban and none from rural, OBCs 8.75%
from urban area none from rural area, SCs/STs 2.63% from urban area
and none from rural area.
The respondents who have studied up to SSC/HSC are as under.
Brahmins are 21.56% from urban area and 28.57% from rural area,
Kshatriyas are 46.83% from urban area and 27.27% from rural area,
Vaishyas are 28.81% from urban area and none from rural area, Patels
are 30% from urban area and 50% from rural area, OBCs are 50%
from urban area and 33.33% from rural area, SCs/STs are 13.15%
from urban area and none from rural area.
The Under Graduates are all dropouts and hence higher their
number lower their academic credentials. If we see them in different
stream wise then we find it as under:
191
Arts :- Brahmins 15.68% from urban area and 14.28% from rural
area, Kshatriyas 3.79 % from urban area and 9.09% from rural area,
Vaishyas 1.69% from urban area and none from rural area, Patels 6.66%
from urban area and 10% from rural area, OBCs 25% from urban area
and none from rural area, SCs/STs 2.63% from urban area and none
from rural area.
Commerce:- Brahmins 5.88% from urban are and none from rural
area, Kshatriyas 1.26% from urban area and none from rural area,
Vaishyas 5.08% from urban area and 50% from rural area, Patels, OBCs
and SCs/STs – Nil.
Science:- Brahmins 3.92% from urban area and none from rural
area, Kshatriyas 2.53% from urban area and none from rural area,
Vaishyas 5.08% from urban area and none from rural area, Patels 1.69%
from urban area and none from rural area, OBCs 25% from urban area
and none from rural area, SCs/STs – Nil. The science stream of under
graduation is not at all represented by rural area and by candidate
belonging to SCs/STs.
Marital status of respondents:-
82.35% and 85.71% Brahmins respectively in urban and rural
areas are married. The percentage of unmarried Brahmins in urban
area is 17.64% and in rural area it is 14.28%.
87.34% and 100% Kshatriyas respectively in urban and rural
areas are married whereas 12.65% Kshatriyas are unmarried in urban
areas.
83.05% and 100% Vaishyas respectively in urban and rural areas
are married. 16.94% Vaishyas, thus are unmarried in urban areas.
68.75% and 83.33% OBCs respectively from urban and rural areas are
192
married whereas 31.25% OBCs are unmarried in urban areas and 16.66%
OBCs are unmarried in rural areas. 81.66% and 80% Patels respectively
from urban and rural areas are married whereas 18.33% and 20.00%
Patels in urban and rural areas respectively are unmarried.
86.84% SCs/STs are married who hail from urban areas and 100%
of them are married who hail from rural areas whereas 13.15% SCs/
STs from urban area are unmarried. The uneven sex ratio might have
played its role in the unmarried status of above respondents.
Table No.3-3
Caste-wise un-marital status of respondents
Sr.No. Caste Urban Rural
1 OBC 31.25% 16.66%
2 Patel 18.33% 20%
3 Brahmin 17.64% 14.28%
4 Vaishya 16.94% Nil
5 SC/ST 13.15% Nil
6 Kshatriya 12.65% Nil
The percentage of unmarried status in rural areas is less as compared
to the city area. The high percentage of unmarried status of OBCs, Patels,
Brahmins and Vaishyas have their own distinguishable factors which
are not relevant in this study and hence not elaborated. However the
depleting sex ratio with regard to girl/women per one thousand men
may also be one of the factors.
Occupations:-
Dr.Ambedkar viewed caste system as an oppressive system where
individual has no liberty. The Hindu caste-ridden society did not allow
its members to go for an occupation of their choice but they had to
193
pursue only the family and caste occupation to which they belong to. In
such circumstances, the downtrodden castes were forced to engage
themselves in occupations which carried the notions of impurity. If the
individuals who engaged themselves in the so called impure occupations,
then the concept of untouchability based on impurity of the occupation
also used to be attached to such occupations. The occupation aspect in
this study is very important and hence information about respondents’
caste-wise original occupation and their changed occupation, after the
society has undergone numerous social changes in modern times, is
gathered to gauge the extent of change in occupations of the people.
Occupation of Brahmins :-
The occupation of Brahmins used to be teaching, preaching,
performing religious rites and rituals, astrology, palmistry etc. From
above traditional occupations, after lot of social change in the country
during British rule and after India won Independence there was drastic
change in the occupation of the Brahmins. The 58.82% urban Brahmin
respondents’ traditional occupation was service and none from rural area
was in service. Now there is decline in percentage of Brahmins engaged
in service. The percentage has come down to 52.94% from 58.82%.
Similarly in the traditional Brahminical occupation of astrology, 25.49%
Brahmins from urban area and 71.42% Brahmins from rural area were
engaged in it. Very drastic social change took place which changed this
occupation of Brahmins drastically which can be seen from the 13.72%
urban Brahmins and 28.57% rural Brahmins engaging themselves in
astrology against the 25.49% in urban area and 71.42% in rural areas
earlier. What a drastic reduction in their own so called pure occupation!!!.
9.80% Brahmins from urban areas and 28.57% Brahmins from rural
194
areas had shown “Business” as their occupation of family. Now urban
Brahmins have engaged themselves three times more in business i.e.
29.41% whereas. 28.57% from rural areas Brahmins have engaged
themselves in “Business” as their present occupation of the family. A
surprising social change has taken place on its own, totally disrupting the
traditional occupation of the Brahmins. 1.96% urban Brahmins were
engaged in agriculture as an occupation but now 100% Brahmins have
detached themselves from the agriculture. The Brahmins have given up
agriculture as their occupation now. The Brahmins also now have engaged
themselves in miscellaneous occupations like journalism, art, social
service, freelance teaching (coaching class) etc. The result of social
change is visible in the change of occupation of all castes and the level of
education is also indicative of social change taken place in society.
Occupation of Kshatriyas :-
In the caste based social order of vertical hierarchy, the occupation
of Kshatriyas was military service of the State. War, Defence, Protection
of people and the territory of the kingdom as the case may be was their
main function. Now let us see what social change has come in Kshatriyas’
traditinoaloccupation of the family.
51.89% Kshatriyas from urban area and 72.72% Kshatriyas in
rural area’s traditional occupation of family was agriculture but it has
now respectively come down to 10.12% and 27.27% respectively. This
means that Kshatriyas have largely lost their hold on agricultural land.
What drove them out from their main occupation? Again there are
many factors including the implementation of tenancy laws in the State
which says “land belongs to him who tills it.” In Gujarati language it is
popularly known as “khede teni Jamin.” 51.89% and 72.72% Kshatriyas
195
respectively from urban and rural areas were engaged in agriculture
whereas 44.30% Kshatriyas from the urban area and 27.27% Kshatriyas
from rural areas were engaged in “Service” but now the service occupation
of the Kshatriyas has gone up to 81.01% in urban area and 63.63% in
rural areas respectively. This percentage is higher than the percentage of
Brahmins, Vaishyas, Patels, OBCs and the SCs/STs is really a very
surprising truth that has come out from research. Now this percentage
has gone much high and it has come to 81.01% and 63.63% of Kshatriyas
respectively from urban and rural areas engaged in service which
surpasses all other major communities, castes and varnas of Gujarat.
Some 2.53% Kshatriya from urban area were engaged in business and
trade traditionally, but there is no much change or progress in this
occupation of Kshatriyas as the percentage has only slightly increased
from 2.53% to 3.79% from urban area. 1.26% Kshatriyas from urban
areas were engaged in the stock exchange and same 1.26% Kshatriyas
are still engaged in the same stock exchange business. So there is no
change so far as this occupation of Kshatriyas is concerned. Some
Kshatriyas have engaged themselves in miscellaneous occupations like