He defines the term ‘dominant caste’ as, “A caste may be said to be "dominant" when it preponderates numerically over the other castes, and when it also wields preponderant economic and political power. A large and powerful caste group can be more easily dominant if its position in the local caste hierarchy is not too low” (Srinivas, 1955, p.18). It is interesting to note that he was unconsciously influenced by the Caste Hindu's identity throughout his work. The work, “Dominant Caste and Other Essays” is a study on Rampura village in south India and it could be viewed as a collection of fallacious narratives instituted to construct a sound base for Sanskritization. It is so because he says “by a strange quirk of fate all the three copies of
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While they do rank above the Untouchables and such low castes as the Swineherd, they are well below Brahmins and Lingayats” (Srinivas, 1995, p.98). It means, the dominant caste may act as an ideal model to the lower caste group. He emphasizes that although the dominant castes have had some characteristics of numerical, economic or political elements, their lower ritual rank indicates tthe Brahmanic complex of ritual superiority in the caste hierarchy. Therefore, lower caste people imitate upper caste’s behaviour, ritual pattern, customs etc. In other words, he meant indirectly that Untouchables don’t have customs alike the Caste Hindus has. To recall, they undergo the process of Sanskritization for being a part of the dominant castes having a higher ritual ranking. To describe the concept Sanskritization is “A low caste was able, in a generation or two, to rise to a higher position in the hierarchy by adopting vegetarianism and teetotalism, and by Sanskritizing its ritual and pantheon. In short, it took over, as far as possible, the customs, rites, and beliefs of the Brahmins, and the adoption of the Brahminic way of life by a low caste seems to have been frequent, though theoretically forbidden.” (Srinivas, 1952, p. 29). In this way, they help in cultural
While they do rank above the Untouchables and such low castes as the Swineherd, they are well below Brahmins and Lingayats” (Srinivas, 1995, p.98). It means, the dominant caste may act as an ideal model to the lower caste group. He emphasizes that although the dominant castes have had some characteristics of numerical, economic or political elements, their lower ritual rank indicates tthe Brahmanic complex of ritual superiority in the caste hierarchy. Therefore, lower caste people imitate upper caste’s behaviour, ritual pattern, customs etc. In other words, he meant indirectly that Untouchables don’t have customs alike the Caste Hindus has. To recall, they undergo the process of Sanskritization for being a part of the dominant castes having a higher ritual ranking. To describe the concept Sanskritization is “A low caste was able, in a generation or two, to rise to a higher position in the hierarchy by adopting vegetarianism and teetotalism, and by Sanskritizing its ritual and pantheon. In short, it took over, as far as possible, the customs, rites, and beliefs of the Brahmins, and the adoption of the Brahminic way of life by a low caste seems to have been frequent, though theoretically forbidden.” (Srinivas, 1952, p. 29). In this way, they help in cultural