Page 1 - Mind Map

Class-XII

Chapter-3

Social Institution: Continuity and Change

Short Notes :

Caste and The Caste System:

 A population is made up of inter-related classes and communities. These

are sustained and regulated by social institutions and social relationships.
 Three institutions, Caste, Tribe and Family are central to Indian Society.

 "Caste" is a social institution that has been in existence for thousands of
years.

Definiton of Caste :

 "Caste", an English word is derived from a Portuguese word.

 "Casta", meaning pure breed. In Indian language it is referred to two
distinct terms, Varna and Jati

Varna &Jati :

 Varna which literally means 'colour' refers is a fourfold division of
society into hierarchical order Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and
Shudra. It is an all India aggregative classification.

 Jati, is a regional or local sub-classification terms consisting of hundreds
or thousands of castes and sub castes. (It is generic term referring species
or kinds of anything ranging from inanimate objects to plants, animals &
human beings.)

Vedic & post Vedic period:
 During the Vedic period the caste system was elaborate, very rigid
or determined by birth.

 But, in post Vedic period it became very rigid with certain defining
features such as caste being determined by birth, membership of

caste adhering to strict rules of marriage, rules regarding food