Social Institutions Continuity and Change Flashcards
Define population.
A population is not just a collection of separate, unrelated individuals, it is a society of distinct but interlinked classes and communities of various kinds. These communities are sustained and regulated by social institutions and social relationships.
What is the origin and meaning of the term ‘caste,’ and how is it connected to the Indian concepts of varna and jati?
Caste is an ancient social institution uniquely associated with India. The English word ‘caste’ borrows from the Portuguese casta, meaning pure breed. The word refers to a broad institutional arrangement that in Indian languages is referred to by two distinct terms, varna and jati.
What is the meaning of ‘varna,’ and how does it categorize society? Who does it exclude from its classification?
Varna, literally ‘color’, is the name given to a four-fold division of society into brahmana, Kshatriya, vaishya, and shudra, though this excludes a significant section of the population composed of the ‘outcastes foreigners, slaves, conquered peoples and others, sometimes referred to as the panchamas or fifth category.
What does the term ‘jati’ mean, and how is it commonly used in the context of caste in Indian languages?
Jati is a generic term referring to species or kinds of anything, ranging from inanimate objects to plants, animals, and human beings. Jati is the word most commonly used to refer to the institution of caste in Indian languages.
