Question

Think about what you have learned about the caste system. Outline the various linkages between the agrarian or rural class structure and caste. Discuss in terms of different access to resources, labour and occupation.

Answer 1

The link between caste and rural class structure is as follows:

1. Access to Resources (Land Ownership):
   • Upper and dominant castes (like Jats, Vokkaligas, or Marathas) own most of the fertile agricultural land.
   • Lower castes (like Dalits or Scheduled Castes) are historically barred from land ownership, leaving them landless.
2. Control of Labour:
   • Land-owning upper castes act as employers who control rural wages and working conditions.
   • Landless lower castes provide the harsh, physical manual labour required in the fields, often under exploitative conditions like bonded or underpaid labour.
3. Division of Occupation:
   • Rural occupations are strictly divided along traditional caste lines rather than individual choice.
   • Dominant castes manage farm administration and trade, while lower castes are restricted to menial tasks, cultivation, and hereditary service occupations.