Caste Complexity In Indian Culture: Traditional Notions Of Hierarchy Explored

Abstract

   The Indian tradition places a strong emphasis on social stratification and inequity. They manifest themselves in everyday life as an unequal distribution of positions within the caste and class structures that make up the civilizing system of Indian society. The concepts of dharma (normative order), karma (personal moral commitment) and jati (caste)¹, which together make up the fundamental elements of Indian culture and distinguish the Indian cultural tradition as a cultural tradition unlike any other, are also the fundamental principlesof hierarchy and social stratification. In the following article, an effort has been made to present, from the perspectives of a variety of academics, a comprehensive and in-depth investigation of the deeply ingrained, traditional aspects of caste that are seen in Indian society.

Keywords- Varna, Jati, Class, Caste, Dharma and karma, Indian society.