Page 243 - DSOC202_SOCIAL_STRATIFICATION_ENGLISH

Social Stratification

Notes majority of families within a caste to a higher or lower position; and (3) mobility of individual
members within a family belonging to certain caste(s). These levels of mobility in the caste structure
indicate that mobility takes place at individual, family and group levels. Mobility in caste structure
at these levels takes place simultaneously. Mobility at one level is not in contrast with the same
process at other levels. The same family may bear mobility at all the three levels. This is also true
for other two levels. Thus, mobility in caste structure is both interrelated and discrete.
Mobility of a Minority of Families within a Caste

Mobility at the level of family is inspired by differential privileges and positions that families and
individuals enjoy in the village community. Families of the same caste, of other castes in the same
village and of other villages and towns may operate as reference points for mobility at the family
level. All the families belonging to a caste do not possess a common set of attributes which may
enable them equally to have mobility. Thus, the families within the same caste witness differential
patterns of mobility without any change in caste structure. Such a mobility accentuates ‘class-like’
differentiation (Leach, 1960) within the hitherto same social group (caste). These increased
distinctions of status and prestige may be termed as ‘positional’ changes (Srinivas, 1966) within
the segments of the village community. These changes in the direction of upward status mobility
are basically achievement-oriented, however, role of ascriptive determinants, such as, caste rank,
family background, landed property, etc. cannot be overlooked and undermined.

Mobility at the family level depends basically upon the attributes of the family concerned
without necessarily being determined by the rank of a caste.
Improvement of economic and social position through more agricultural production, business,
prestigious occupations and education contribute to enhancement of status of certain families. In
our study of six villages in Rajasthan, we have noted that some families of the Brahmins have
taken up higher income providing and lucrative jobs by achieving higher education. In Bawari
village, a science graduate is an agriculture extension officer. Three families from Bhutera village
have established business at Delhi. In Harmara, three families have got educated all the adult
male members and secured white-collar jobs for them. This is true for some families of Roopgarh
and Murwara as well.
Similarly, some families of Rajputs, Charans and Banias in Roopgarh, Sabalpura and Harmara
have elevated their positions in terms of both improvement in economic position and higher
education. In Roopgarh, for example, leaving aside the families which have graduates and
matriculates, there are families which having engineers, university teachers and persons in all-
India services. In Harmara, a Bania is a medical doctor, and a Charan is an engineer. Such a
mobility based on higher education and consequent higher occupation and income is mainly
confined to the upper castes and class people.
Mobility at the level of family among the intermediate castes, however, is of a slightly different
nature. It is not higher education and corresponding higher occupation, income and prestige that
determine mobility in the case of the families of the Jats, Gujars, Malis, Khatis, Ahirs and Gadarias.
Enhancement of economic position in the case of these castes is through more land and more
income providing occupations. For example, fifteen families of the Jats have manoeuvred more
than 100 acres of land at the time of the abolition. These families have built up pucca houses and
spent conspicuously on marriages and other occasions during the last fifteen years. Some families
of these castes run petty shops in towns and this has enhanced their economic status. There are,
however, some families which have a few members as school teachers, police constables, and the
like.

238 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY