Question 1(a) · 12.5 marks · 211 words written
Opening · a definition
The term Sanskritisation first given by M. N Srinivas, is based on his extensive fieldwork and participant observation recorded in 'The Remembered Village'. Based on his 'Field view' Srinivas critiqued the notion of the caste system as a rigid and inflexible system of hierarchy.
Body · continuous prose
It is the ambiguity, the nebulousness of caste position that is noted to make possible mobility. Sanskritisation is a process whereby members of a 'low' caste adopt the rituals, social practices, cultural norms, values and life style patterns of 'higher' castes. It is related to the concept of 'anticipatory socialisation' given by Merton. The caste system can therefore be 'structurally adaptive' as noted by Yogendra Singh.
Singh in fact observes Sanskritisation to be an endogenous (orthogenetic) form of social mobility, within a traditional framework.
Instances of Sanskritisation that Srinivas cites is the inter-generation emulation of the Brahmans by the Lingayats in South India.
Close
However Srinivas' Sanskritisation as a concept does not emphasise on outright repudiation of the very model. For example Lewis in his study of the Jatavs in Agra, essentially a 'low caste' in the ritual hierarchy, notes alternative avenues to claim a higher status through politicisation of caste. Dipankar Gupta in turn observes the existence of multiple models of hierarchy that subvert the Brahmanical discourse.