Page 157 - DSOC202_SOCIAL_STRATIFICATION_ENGLISH

Social Stratification

Notes Indian population. These three geographical regions are :
(i) The Himalayas.
(ii) The Northern plains of Hindustan, and
(iii) The Deccan
The major ethnic elements of these three respective geographical regions are (i) Indo-Aryan and
Mongoloid, (ii) Indo-Afghan viz. the Jats and Rajputs and (iii) Negrito, pre-Dravidian, southern
Brachaycephal and western Brachycephals.
Haddon’s racial classification is based on physical traits, customs and traditions, language and the
prevalent folklore. He analysed the racial elements in Indian population with the help of these
“evidences”. This classification now carries only historical importance.
In this crowd of scholars B.S. Guha stands apart. He presented his racial classification basing it on
scientific criteria. This classification is based on anthropometric surveys conducted as past of the
1931 Census. It was for the first time that a study of racial types was done using the then developed
anthropometric techniques. By virtue of being based on a sound scientific method, it is regarded
as the most recognised and acceptable racial classification till date. It is invariably used in any
study of Indian population. This classification is as follows :
1. The Negrito
2. The Proto-Australoid
3. The Mongoloid
(a) Plaeo-Mongoloid
(i) Long headed
(ii) Broad headed
(b) Tibeto-Mongoloid
4. The Mediterranean
(a) Paleo-Mediterranean
(b) Mediterranean
(c) Oriental type
5. The Western Brachycephals
(a) Alpinoid
(b) Dinaric
(c) Armenoid
6. The Nordic
Among the conclusions of Guha’s Survey the most important is that the Barchycephals (broad
headed people) dominate the Indian population. This was not the general belief before Guha’s
classification. Guha’s classification has received the maximum approval of the scholars in this
field. Since no other study or survey based on scientific line of this magnitude has been conducted,
this classification continues to be the most recognised and acceptable. The two points on which
Guha has been criticised most are the undue importance to Negrito elements and that the sources
of all racial groups in India have been traced outside India.
On the basis of intensive study of racial elements in Indian population three most important racial
types may be described. These are : Negrito, Proto-Australoid and Mongoloid. It is the general
belief that the people with mongoloid racial elements came last.
In fact the main difference of opinion is with regard to Proto-Australoid and Negrito. Guha, and
before him De Quarterfages in 1877 had expressed the view that the people with Negrito racial

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