Understanding Caste and Class: Categories and Measurement
Published: May 15, 2020
Photo: Prasad
Belonging to the other backward classes (OBC), the Baul community of Bengal are wandering minstrels. They are characterised by their unique clothing and handcrafted musical instruments.
Abstract: The caste has been a unique social institution in India. It has also emerged in a new form after the mandalisation of caste in the early 1990s resulting in the extension of reservation to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in government jobs and also in admissions to colleges and universities. The relative size of population of various caste groups particularly of the OBCs is also a matter of debate. Census does not provide population data on OBCs, however, it is possible to assess it from nationally representative sample surveys. Further, the correspondence between caste categories and class has been a matter of debate. This paper presents an assessment of class within caste categories based on data from nationally representative sample surveys.
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