(Brief notes and an explanation, based on 'Images and Reality', BA, University of Delhi)
Study Material is available for students within fair use policy of Copyright Acts, at-
www.studywithanil.blogspot.com/2020/11/Indian-Society-Images-and-Reality-Bachelor-of-Arts-Honours-Sociology-University-of-Delhi.html
Pg. 78
This chapter is talking about Integration
and Combination of Indian Culture.
Indian Culture represent a socially and
culturally integrated and combination of diversity.
Two types of patterns are generally
described as ‘networks’ of relations and relations with the centre.
We have a large diversity in society;
therefore, we have also a large problem with the integration of societies.
Pg. 79
We have 15 large literary language regions.
Each large linguistic has a unique hierarchy of caste, thus they are separate from the adjacent regional hierarchy, not only by the difference of language and lack of marriage but also by the absence of those defined ritualized relations of rank which are essential to Indian community life.
Further, we have division on the SPOKEN LANGUAGE which is called BOLI in Hindi means those spoken languages which are not very well developed, have no own script, have no rich literature, and not spoken at the state level.
All these leads the ENDOGAMOUS and differentiated in many ways.
It will be better to have some understanding of different kinds of marriage, they are-
Endogamy marriage within the group, the group can be caste, religion, region, gotra, language, and even nation etc.
Exogamy marriage outside the group, the group can be caste, religion, region, gotra, language, and even nation etc.
Monogamy marital relationship with one partner i.e. having one husband and one wife
Polygamy marital relationship with more than one partner or having more than one spouse i.e. more than one husband or wife
Polygyny marriage of a man to two or more women at the same time
Polyandry marriage of a woman to two or more men at the same time
Polyandrous marriage are brothers or are said to be brothers, the institution is called adelphic, or fraternal
Hence, we have four levels of Network and Centres of Civilisation, with their Centres and Cavitations
1) All Indian
2) The region, this is generally defined by the literary language and distinctive caste pattern
3) The Sub-Region
4) The Local Level
And all these four levels are not only the linguistic but the social-cultural patterns, and relations are also changing.
Caste system and caste relations are one of the major characteristics of the Indian society, which is also changing with the regions because this is hard to determine that a person from other state and caste is where falling in the caste hierarchy. Thus this is become hard to determine the social relations in terms of the caste. That means this is hard to determine how one should behave with different caste people if s/he wish to do.
Thus we were found very rare marital relations across the states. But now a day such marital relations are increasing. Not only inter-state but numbers of inter-caste marriage even interfaith marriage is also increasing.
Pg. 80
Now we can say that the linguistic and geographical boundaries are also working as social and cultural boundaries.
In the South Indian, especially in Tamil Nadu, have a different caste system, called Left Hand Caste and Right-Hand Caste.
What are the Left-Hand Caste and Right-Hand Caste?
During the 11th century when the Cholas (300s BCE–1279 CE) returned after the war, they were given land. They called themselves valangai (right hand).
Farmers with land were considered superior and called right-hand castes = Valangai
On the other side, artisans and worksmen were under the left-hand caste = Idangai
Valangai (right-hand caste), refers to a caste-based division of communities in the Tamil Nadu, that was in vogue/ fashion/ trend from ancient times right up to the 19th and even the early decades of the 20th century AD. However, since India's independence, the differences have practically vanished.
During the Chola period, the left and right-hand factions comprised 98 castes each, but by the 19th century, the right-hand faction was made of 60 castes, and the left-hand, only 6. From ancient times, there was intense rivalry between the left-handed and right-handed factions.
It was also unclear as to which castes constituted each faction. Some castes considered to be left-handed in some areas were regarded as right-handed in others and vice versa.
Further castes were added at various times.
Roughly speaking, the Valangai or right-handed faction was made up of castes with an agricultural basis while the Idangai was made of metal workers, weavers, etc. i.e. castes involved in manufacturing.
Why the idea of Left-Hand Caste and Right-Hand Caste are matters?
The answer is that original of the caste system is not only confined or justifies the Manu Formula or the Hindu Shastras Formula. The original of caste maybe it is the occupation, skill, organization and land in terms of wealth and stability. All these gave shape and identity of the caste system in India.
Apart from this division and diversion, each level Indian have some social commonalities.
They have a certain shared element of culture.
The author is saying that all India have Sanskrit while the states have their own certain language.
And in the same fashion, all India have a Hinduism which has shared characteristics and have the distinctive historic tradition and a common style in many matters of daily life.
Pg. 81
INTERACTIVE PATTERNS
A. Network
The distinction may be made among integrative patterns between supra-local rural ‘network’ of social relationships in general and those denser nexus of relationships which may be called ‘centres’.
Networks are widely spread, diffuse patterns of relationships.
Among Indian rural networks which serve importantly to integrate regions are networks of –
Trade Network trading relationship, trading caste, trade guild, trade network
Marriage Network 1,00,000 person spread over hundreds of square miles may be linked directly or indirectly
Political Network consists of the ties of clan and kinship among the dominant landlord group of the countryside.
Within the political network, indigenous army units suggest that these extremely various organizations were often principally composed of men of one caste. Example Ranveer Sena in Bihar
Religious Network, contacts by many kinds of religious travellers, occasional individual, mass pilgrimage, which are almost universal practised, as well as the constant movement of religious entertainers, participators, holy men and beggars. Such religious network is the biggest force of culture and politics. (Through their connections)
Rural India – socio-economic institutions bind village into a unit.
These kinds of network are found in each and every society including in primitive society.
Pg. 82
B. Centres
Indian civilisation centre may be seen as formed and functioning in relation to such networks.
There is the multiplicity of the centre of centres may be distinguished at many levels of greater and lesser scope.
There is no neat hierarchy among civilisational centre.
How centres are determined?
In general, all over the world, the centres are determined by the domination of political power. Politically dominated places are also the centre of everything.
However, some places maybe -
Dominated in Education – Nalanda University, Taxashila University, Patna, Allahabad,
Dominated in Politics – Delhi, Lucknow,
Dominated in Commerce and Trade – Mumbai, New York,
Dominated in Religious Activities, etc – Varanashi, Ganga Bank, Bodh Gaya, Rajgir,
Please note that the political and administrative function is not different from each other, especially in the dynasty regime. In the dynasty regime, some caste is considered as “official caste”, and they were/are getting special treatment.
Pg. 84-85
Indian society and culture are heterogeneous thus their centres are also heterogeneous.
So we had
- Mughal Empire, Mughal Court, Hindu Empire, British Empire at the same time for the administrative and political centre
- The sacred cities like Banaras, Prayag, Gaya etc as religious centres
Therefore we can say that India is not the only diverse country in terms of culture and religion but also for the centres. We have many centres for the same things and all have their own values.
Each centre has many kinds of diversities.
Each centre of kinds of people and many local and regional elements of culture are juxtaposed and ordered within a small space.
For example, Delhi is the centre of politics but you can also find here a regional state, or caste or cultural organisation. You can find similar kinds of example in each centre.
Pg. 85
Conclusion
This paper is suggesting that some of the structural and cultural complexities involved in the question of regional integration in a civilisation.
Indian has several levels of network and social structure, and centres are sources of diversity and integration, at various level of civilization.
Dear students if you have any question, regarding this brief note and an explanation, then please let me know in the comment section. The comment section is open for all.
About Image: Chhath Puja, Sanchi Ka Stupa, Buddha and Buddhist Culture
Monogamy marital relationship with one partner i.e. having one husband and one wife
Polygamy marital relationship with more than one partner or having more than one spouse i.e. more than one husband or wife
Polygyny marriage of a man to two or more women at the same time
Polyandry marriage of a woman to two or more men at the same time
Polyandrous marriage are brothers or are said to be brothers, the institution is called adelphic, or fraternal
Hence, we have four levels of Network and Centres of Civilisation, with their Centres and Cavitations
1) All Indian
2) The region, this is generally defined by the literary language and distinctive caste pattern
3) The Sub-Region
4) The Local Level
And all these four levels are not only the linguistic but the social-cultural patterns, and relations are also changing.
Caste system and caste relations are one of the major characteristics of the Indian society, which is also changing with the regions because this is hard to determine that a person from other state and caste is where falling in the caste hierarchy. Thus this is become hard to determine the social relations in terms of the caste. That means this is hard to determine how one should behave with different caste people if s/he wish to do.
Thus we were found very rare marital relations across the states. But now a day such marital relations are increasing. Not only inter-state but numbers of inter-caste marriage even interfaith marriage is also increasing.
Pg. 80
Now we can say that the linguistic and geographical boundaries are also working as social and cultural boundaries.
In the South Indian, especially in Tamil Nadu, have a different caste system, called Left Hand Caste and Right-Hand Caste.
What are the Left-Hand Caste and Right-Hand Caste?
During the 11th century when the Cholas (300s BCE–1279 CE) returned after the war, they were given land. They called themselves valangai (right hand).
Farmers with land were considered superior and called right-hand castes = Valangai
On the other side, artisans and worksmen were under the left-hand caste = Idangai
Valangai (right-hand caste), refers to a caste-based division of communities in the Tamil Nadu, that was in vogue/ fashion/ trend from ancient times right up to the 19th and even the early decades of the 20th century AD. However, since India's independence, the differences have practically vanished.
During the Chola period, the left and right-hand factions comprised 98 castes each, but by the 19th century, the right-hand faction was made of 60 castes, and the left-hand, only 6. From ancient times, there was intense rivalry between the left-handed and right-handed factions.
It was also unclear as to which castes constituted each faction. Some castes considered to be left-handed in some areas were regarded as right-handed in others and vice versa.
Further castes were added at various times.
Roughly speaking, the Valangai or right-handed faction was made up of castes with an agricultural basis while the Idangai was made of metal workers, weavers, etc. i.e. castes involved in manufacturing.
Why the idea of Left-Hand Caste and Right-Hand Caste are matters?
The answer is that original of the caste system is not only confined or justifies the Manu Formula or the Hindu Shastras Formula. The original of caste maybe it is the occupation, skill, organization and land in terms of wealth and stability. All these gave shape and identity of the caste system in India.
|
Valangai (right-hand caste), |
Idangai
(left-hand caste) |
|
Valangai faction/
group/ division was made up of castes with an agricultural. |
Idangai
was made of metal workers, weavers, etc. i.e. castes involved in
manufacturing, artisans and workman. |
|
Valangai faction/
division/ group was numerically superior |
The Idangai (or
left-handed) faction/division/ group was numerically inferior of fewer in
number. |
|
Earlier they were 98
castes but now they are around 60 castes in the Valangai or
right-hand caste faction |
The Idangai or
left-hand caste have only 6 castes The core
groups in Idangai were the five castes called Anchalar/ Panchalar. ie- 1.
Kannar, 2. Thattar, 3. Asari, 4. Kollar, 5. Thachan |
|
The Valangai or
right-hand caste faction was better organized, politically |
Idangai or
left-hand castes are not better organised politically |
|
|
|
Apart from this division and diversion, each level Indian have some social commonalities.
They have a certain shared element of culture.
The author is saying that all India have Sanskrit while the states have their own certain language.
And in the same fashion, all India have a Hinduism which has shared characteristics and have the distinctive historic tradition and a common style in many matters of daily life.
Pg. 81
INTERACTIVE PATTERNS
A. Network
The distinction may be made among integrative patterns between supra-local rural ‘network’ of social relationships in general and those denser nexus of relationships which may be called ‘centres’.
Networks are widely spread, diffuse patterns of relationships.
Among Indian rural networks which serve importantly to integrate regions are networks of –
Trade Network trading relationship, trading caste, trade guild, trade network
Marriage Network 1,00,000 person spread over hundreds of square miles may be linked directly or indirectly
Political Network consists of the ties of clan and kinship among the dominant landlord group of the countryside.
Within the political network, indigenous army units suggest that these extremely various organizations were often principally composed of men of one caste. Example Ranveer Sena in Bihar
Religious Network, contacts by many kinds of religious travellers, occasional individual, mass pilgrimage, which are almost universal practised, as well as the constant movement of religious entertainers, participators, holy men and beggars. Such religious network is the biggest force of culture and politics. (Through their connections)
Rural India – socio-economic institutions bind village into a unit.
These kinds of network are found in each and every society including in primitive society.
Pg. 82
B. Centres
Indian civilisation centre may be seen as formed and functioning in relation to such networks.
There is the multiplicity of the centre of centres may be distinguished at many levels of greater and lesser scope.
There is no neat hierarchy among civilisational centre.
How centres are determined?
In general, all over the world, the centres are determined by the domination of political power. Politically dominated places are also the centre of everything.
However, some places maybe -
Dominated in Education – Nalanda University, Taxashila University, Patna, Allahabad,
Dominated in Politics – Delhi, Lucknow,
Dominated in Commerce and Trade – Mumbai, New York,
Dominated in Religious Activities, etc – Varanashi, Ganga Bank, Bodh Gaya, Rajgir,
Please note that the political and administrative function is not different from each other, especially in the dynasty regime. In the dynasty regime, some caste is considered as “official caste”, and they were/are getting special treatment.
Pg. 84-85
Indian society and culture are heterogeneous thus their centres are also heterogeneous.
So we had
- Mughal Empire, Mughal Court, Hindu Empire, British Empire at the same time for the administrative and political centre
- The sacred cities like Banaras, Prayag, Gaya etc as religious centres
Therefore we can say that India is not the only diverse country in terms of culture and religion but also for the centres. We have many centres for the same things and all have their own values.
Each centre has many kinds of diversities.
Each centre of kinds of people and many local and regional elements of culture are juxtaposed and ordered within a small space.
For example, Delhi is the centre of politics but you can also find here a regional state, or caste or cultural organisation. You can find similar kinds of example in each centre.
Pg. 85
Conclusion
This paper is suggesting that some of the structural and cultural complexities involved in the question of regional integration in a civilisation.
Indian has several levels of network and social structure, and centres are sources of diversity and integration, at various level of civilization.
Dear students if you have any question, regarding this brief note and an explanation, then please let me know in the comment section. The comment section is open for all.
About Image: Chhath Puja, Sanchi Ka Stupa, Buddha and Buddhist Culture
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