Abstract: Researchers in the domain of social science do not dispute the existence of castes in Indian society; they say that caste system is a salient feature of this society and the division of castes into sub-castes is one of the elements of this system. This understanding of Indian society has provided a framework for many scholars to classify the different ‘human groups’ into castes and sub-castes. As a result we now have numerous research studies on classification of castes with different explanations and interpretations. Such explanations have themselves become a problem seeking solution rather than offering a solution to the already existing complex problem of understanding of caste classification. This peculiar situation establishes the need for reassessing the explanation and the associated confusions in order to clarify the misconceptions about caste based classification of Indian society.
Keywords: Caste, Sub-castes, Caste System, Endogamy, Exogamy, Jati, Upa-pangada, Upa-jati, Kula, Pangada etc.
Title: Caste Classification in India: A Re-look at the Problems
Author: Dr. Kavitha P N
International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research
ISSN 2348-3156 (Print), ISSN 2348-3164 (online)
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