8. Caste and economy: Traditionally, it was said that caste system has been functional for the society particularly in the economic sense. It is nothing but the jajmani system. It is a system of traditional occupation for the lower castes, particularly the service caste. The service caste is known as Kamin and they used to provide service to the higher castes known as Jajmans. The Kamins provided specialized skills and services to the Jajamans and in return they used to get rewards in kind (food grains). The relationship between Jajamans and Kamins used to be a permanent and hereditary relationship i.e. after the death of the Jajamn, his son used to be a Jajman and the same principal applied to the Kamins. Thus, it was a functional relationship in village India. However, due to introduction of market economy and land reforms the Jajamani system gradually is being eroded. In this manner, caste system has undergone many changes due to the above processes and it has adapted to the new socio-economic condition. In urban areas, today people do not adhere to caste norms. The only aspect where caste comes is that during marriage they still become endogamous. However, as mentioned earlier, some people have adopted to inter-caste marriage and inter-religious marriages.

References

Ghurye, G. S. 1932. Caste and Race in India. London: Kegan Paul.

Srinivas, M. N. 1952. Religion and Society among the Coorgs of South India. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Srinivas, M. N. 1956. “A Note on Sanskritization and Westernization.” Far Eastern Quarterly, 15: 481-496.

Srinivas, M. N. 1966. Social Change in Modern India. Berkeley.

Srinivas, M. N. 1968. “Mobility in the Caste System,” in M. Singer and B. S. Cohn, eds., Structure and Change in Indian Society, Chicago: Aldine .

Srinivas, M. N. 1989. The Cohesive Role of Sanskritization and Other Essays. Delhi: Oxford : Oxford University Press.