Purity-Pollution, Discrimination and Caste System in India
By: Chitrasen Pasayat
Publisher: Mohit Publications, 4675/21, Ansari Road, Darya Ganj, New Delhi-110002, INDIA
Published: 2005
Place of publication: New Delhi
Language: eng
Subjects: Sociology-Caste System-Social Hierarchy-Social Discrimination
Description: The earlier version of this work was the part of Dissertation submitted in 1986 by the Author to the Centre for the Study of Social Systems, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi in partial fulfilment of the requirements for award of the Degree of Master of Philosophy. The present endeavour contributes in carrying forward the unending debate on various issues of caste system in India and particularly in Orissa such as Purity-Pollution, Social Hierarchy, Separation and Discrimination, Division of Labour and Deprivation, Untouchability and the like.
Various Sections of this book are arranged in the following manner: Preface; Chapter-1: Introduction; Chapter-2: Nature of Purity and Pollution; Chapter-3: Sources of Purity and Pollution; Chapter-4: Purity-Pollution and Stigma of Untouchability; Chapter-5: Conclusion - Purity-Pollution and Status Determination; Bibliography; Index
Notes: Purity-Pollution is an universal phenomenon found in all the known societies in the world. Purity of mind, body and soul is believed to be essentially required to approach the divine objects. Pollution occuring due to birth, death, menstruation, puberty etc. is commonly observed by the people including tribals, Muslims and Christians in India. But, purity-pollution as a principle of caste system is unique in Indian social reality. Untouchability is the outcome of this principle where persons belonging to the so called untouchable castes or scheduled castes are hateful to the persons belonging to the higher castes. This book is an attempt to understand different issues and problems relating to the caste system in India, such as purity-pollution, nature and sources of purity-pollution, hierarchical gradation of various castes and sub-castes, separation of castes/jatis and discrimination of one caste from another, division of labour or jajmani system and to deprive some persons of their rights as human beings, practice of untouchability and the like.
Table of contents: title: Introduction; title: Conclusion - Purity-Pollution and Status Determination