Problems of Indian society

CASTE HAS BEEN a pervasive and a per
sisting feature of Indian Society. The Caste
system, however, has not been static but
has been continually changing. ndia is at
period
present passing through a critical
when varied influences are likely to change
the complex of social structure. Where is
Indian society going? This is the key ques-
tion that is examined by the author in this
book. He discusses the hierarchical nature
of Indian caste system and tries to find
out the reasons for attributing high caste
status to some castes. He gives a useful
analysis of many facets of conflicting and
ever changing social relations of the caste
system in India. He has considered phy
sical characteristics, numerical preponder
ance, division of labour, economic powers
based on income and wealth, political in-
fluence and ritual and religious aspects of
the caste hierarchy. The author has also
considered, very briefly, the possible etfects
of industrialisation in undermining the caste
system. Prof. P. C. Mahalanobis has con
tributed a Foreword to this book.