Aayushi BansalAIR 7 · CSE 2024 · 161 wordsTheir whole copy
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Understanding of caste remains central to understanding Indian society. Hence, it has been studied from multiple perspectives ranging from indological to interactional.
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Interactional approach implies study of inter-relationships and patterned interactions between various castes. This helps to understand how actually castes interact with each other - basis hierarchy or competitive inequality.
Prof Andre Beteille was a doyen of this approach. In his study of Sripuram (Tanjore), he used Weberian approach to find interactions among castes based on class and power as well.
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Interactional approach is mostly an empirical and field view based approach. It is a departure from Indological approach of Prof GS Ghurye which creates a textual understanding (book view).
Interactional approach of Prof Beteille showed how caste was mobile and not hierarchical and closed as told by Louis Dumont in Homo Hierarchicus.
Castes interact based on interest and class not just as per rituals and religious prescriptions.
Interactional approach showed how caste is beyond how caste ought to be.