"Varna, Jati, Gotra: A Back Down To Vedic Society": Submitted By: (
"Varna, Jati, Gotra: A Back Down To Vedic Society": Submitted By: (
"Varna, Jati, Gotra: A Back Down To Vedic Society": Submitted By: (
Submitted by:
1st Semester
Submitted to:
Dr. Priyadarshini,
August,2018
The Indian society is even today an agglomeration of numerous castes, tribes and religious
communities. The tribal and caste groups are endogamous, reproductively isolated populations
traditionally distributed over a restricted geographical range. The different caste populations,
unlike tribes, have extensive geographical overlap and members of several castes generally
constitute the complex village society. In such a village society, each caste, traditionally self
regulated by a caste council, used to lead a relatively autonomous existence. Each caste used to
pursue a hereditarily prescribed occupation; this was particularly true of the artisan and service
castes and the pastoral and nomadic castes. The several castes were linked to each other
through a traditionally determined barter of services and produce. These caste groups retained
their identity even after conversion to Islam or Christianity. Each of the caste groups was thus
the unit within which cultural and perhaps genetic evolution occurred, at least for the last 1500
years when the system was fully crystallized and probably much longer. Over this period the
various castes had come to exhibit striking differences in cultural traits like skills possessed,
food habits, dress, language, religious observances, as well as in a number of genetic traits.
The word " gotra" means "lineage" in the Sanskrit language. Among those of the Brahmin caste,
Gotras are reckoned patrilineally. E a c h gotra takes the name of a famous Rishi or sage who was the
patrilineal forebearer of that clan. The concept of Gotra was the socio demographic-cultural coding by
Brahma to classify His family, themselves among different groups. At the beginning, these gentes
identified themselves by the names of various rishis (Angirasha, Daksha, Himavan, Attri, Gautam, Vishrava,
Kashyapa, Vasistha, Kutsa and Bharadwaja ; the first seven of these are often enumerated as Saptarishis).
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The researcher tend to analyze the origin and practice of varna, jati and gotra system
through India’s history.
The researcher tend to analyze the socio-economic and cultural values of varna, jati and
gotra system.
The researcher tend to analyze the Colonial and European studies in castes and their
impact.
The researcher tend to analyze the post independent India and varna, jati and gotra system.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The researcher will be relying on doctrinal and non-doctrinal method of research to finalize the
project.
SOURCES OF DATA
Primary Sources: Books
Secondary Sources: websites, researches
TENTATIVE CHAPTERISATION
Introduction
Varna
Caste
a. Definitions of caste
b. Origin of caste in India
c. Characteristics of Caste
d. Changes in Caste system
e. Factors for Casteism
f. Caste structure and Kinship
Gotra
a. Origins
b. List of Gotras
d. Significance of Gotra
Conclusion
BIBLIOGRAPHY
BOOKS:
Research In Sociology : by Dr. D.Narain
The Penguin History of Early India From the origins to AD 1300: by Romila Thappar
Ancient India: R.C Majumdar
WEBSITES:
http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/157640/6/06_chapter%202.pdf
http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/sociology/essay-on-varna-system-in-india-1513-words/4006
https://www.lawctopus.com/academike/varna-system/
https://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia/cgi-bin/kbase/Gotra
https://sbdsisaikat.wordpress.com/2013/06/25/the-vedic-gotra-system/
http://ijaar.in/posts/images/upload/IJAAR_VOL_III_ISSUE_VI_JAN_FEB_2018__1053_1056.pdf