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Caste and Race in India
Caste is the most dominant single aspect of Indian society and no study of Indian society can be complete without getting into the ramifications of the Hindu caste system. Caste and Race in India, since its first publication in History of Civilisation series, edited by C. K. Ogden in 1932, has remained a basic work for students of Indian sociology and anthropology, and has been acclaimed by teachers and reviewers as a sociological classic.
504 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1932
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 18, 2014
This is a classic example of what a data driven mess can look like. The more data the merrier, but what the fuck is this?!
October 8, 2025
1. What is this about?
This is a great work written by Professor Ghurye on India's Caste, around late 1950s, early 1960s.
As I have covered Indian History, Caste from many Sociologists, Anthropologists, I could notice diversity of views among them. However, it is saddening to notice, Indian Political discourse centers around, Caste & Affirmative-action.
So on the Indian caste question, the view points that I have come across, ranges from, blaming the British (Congress/BJP supporters), blaming Hinduism (Ambedkar), blaming capitalism (Left-wing/Marxist), patriarchy (feminists), blaming Brahmans/Vedic-Culture (Dravidian supporters), viewing Caste as a tool (British administration)
2. What do I make of this book?
From outside perspective, this seems that the Political parties, glue, manage interests of varieties/social-groups of India, such a challenging task?
Ghurye describes Caste from Historical, Comparative methodology. In this, you usually go into historical details, sources, origins and then compare with other cultures, tribes or people-groups.
While there are obviously stratification in other societies, Ghurye says, it was only Hindu system is unique in certain things. Primarily in the thoroughness of its application and the practice of untouchability. Consider the context, this work was in the India 1950s and 1960s. We'd have to ignore the racial chapter, Anthropometric which majority of Anthropologists, Sociologists have found to be irrelevant to modern science.
In Ghurye's work, lot of the purity-ritual perception are relevant to modern India.
When I say relevant, among rural-Indians or newly urbanized Indians, beliefs on colors remain the same. Among popular beliefs, I wonder if the obsession of fair-skin, comes from all this, described in this book?
Ghurye emphasizes that untouchability is the most unique feature of the Hindu system.
It arose from exaggerated notions of purity that were fundamental to the Brahmanic culture, especially in connection with the elaborate sacrificial ritual.
Anyway, this is a good work, required to be read by anyone interested in Indian History, Caste.
As I am going through Ghurye's work, I am reminded, of similar line of reasoning in Audrey Truschke's works, that makes me validate her scholarship.
3. Questions from this book, that I am wondering?
What is quite baffling to me is this How is that from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, the beliefs of Caste are all similar?
How did it spread, especially endogamy?
I think only answer is state-institutions.
In Indian History, from 1000-1800s, King-Administrators in the courts, must have helped-shape this?
Deus Vult,
Gottfried
This is a great work written by Professor Ghurye on India's Caste, around late 1950s, early 1960s.
As I have covered Indian History, Caste from many Sociologists, Anthropologists, I could notice diversity of views among them. However, it is saddening to notice, Indian Political discourse centers around, Caste & Affirmative-action.
So on the Indian caste question, the view points that I have come across, ranges from, blaming the British (Congress/BJP supporters), blaming Hinduism (Ambedkar), blaming capitalism (Left-wing/Marxist), patriarchy (feminists), blaming Brahmans/Vedic-Culture (Dravidian supporters), viewing Caste as a tool (British administration)
2. What do I make of this book?
From outside perspective, this seems that the Political parties, glue, manage interests of varieties/social-groups of India, such a challenging task?
Ghurye describes Caste from Historical, Comparative methodology. In this, you usually go into historical details, sources, origins and then compare with other cultures, tribes or people-groups.
While there are obviously stratification in other societies, Ghurye says, it was only Hindu system is unique in certain things. Primarily in the thoroughness of its application and the practice of untouchability. Consider the context, this work was in the India 1950s and 1960s. We'd have to ignore the racial chapter, Anthropometric which majority of Anthropologists, Sociologists have found to be irrelevant to modern science.
In Ghurye's work, lot of the purity-ritual perception are relevant to modern India.
When I say relevant, among rural-Indians or newly urbanized Indians, beliefs on colors remain the same. Among popular beliefs, I wonder if the obsession of fair-skin, comes from all this, described in this book?
Ghurye emphasizes that untouchability is the most unique feature of the Hindu system.
It arose from exaggerated notions of purity that were fundamental to the Brahmanic culture, especially in connection with the elaborate sacrificial ritual.
Anyway, this is a good work, required to be read by anyone interested in Indian History, Caste.
As I am going through Ghurye's work, I am reminded, of similar line of reasoning in Audrey Truschke's works, that makes me validate her scholarship.
3. Questions from this book, that I am wondering?
What is quite baffling to me is this How is that from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, the beliefs of Caste are all similar?
How did it spread, especially endogamy?
I think only answer is state-institutions.
In Indian History, from 1000-1800s, King-Administrators in the courts, must have helped-shape this?
Deus Vult,
Gottfried
April 26, 2016
It's a great and a hefty work, and defines the overall nature and evolution of caste system and the inception of new castes( on the basis of who is having sex with whom) and gotras with a cumbersome amount of data to support the same. And how it helped in manipulating (by a particular sect) the majority of section for their own interests at the cost of sufferings of others. ....INDIA's APARTHEID ... Ending with the constitutional inclusion. A must read ..
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews