Published Paper Details:

This paper as entitled �Continuity in the Caste System� talks about the nature, characteristics and dynamics of continuity in the Caste System. The nature of caste system indicates inequality in terms of status of different castes in the society, privilege and disability associated with different castes, the notion of purity and pollution (vegetarianism), practice of untouchability, the practice of endogamy etc. As peculiar in Indian society, this paper explores the current continuity in the features of the caste system. There is no uniformity in the definition of caste system. Different scholars have defined caste system on the basis of its characteristics. G. S. Ghurye (1932) has described caste system on the basis of its six features segmental division of society, hierarchy, restrictions on feeding and social intercourse, civil and religious disabilities and privileged of different sections, lack of unrestricted choice of occupation, and restrictions on marriage. L. Dumont (1980) defines caste system it as the system of ideas and values in Hindu social structure and talks about caste as a hierarchically arranged groups based on purity and pollution, hereditary division of labour based on religious qualities, regulation on marriage on the basis of endogamy, restrictions on food and vegetarianism in different groups. Various aspect of the caste system like social, cultural, political, economic and religious which are contributing to its continued survival have been explored in this paper. Caste system is a form of social stratification characterized by endogamy, hereditary transmission of a lifestyle which often includes an occupation, status in a hierarchy, and customary social interaction and exclusion. But most importantly, it focuses on the dynamics of continuity in the Caste System which is still continuing today and also it discusses some of the other current emerging trends on the issue of reservation like jat, Maratha and patidar agitation