Caste and Class in Maharashtra

Classes in Marxist theory are not mere economic categories. They are living social groups whose attitudes and responses are determined by historical and cultural factors. The materialistic interpretation of history does not imply an exclusive emphasis on the economic factor to the comparative neglec...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Economic and political weekly 1979-02, Vol.14 (7/8), p.425-436
Main Author: Nalini Pandit
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Brahmins
Buddhism
Caste prejudice
Hindus
Marxian economics
Middle class
Peasant class
Peninsular Movement
Political parties
Social groups
Social reform
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Summary:Classes in Marxist theory are not mere economic categories. They are living social groups whose attitudes and responses are determined by historical and cultural factors. The materialistic interpretation of history does not imply an exclusive emphasis on the economic factor to the comparative neglect of others. The purpose of formulating a social theory is to understand the attitudes and responses of different social groups to particular programmes. Any simplistic all-India generalisations about the mode of production and the nature of social classes, though essential, are bound to be inadequate. For them to be realistic and purposeful, they have to be based on detailed studies of the specific social structure in the different regions of India. This paper attempts to analyse the changing nature of caste relations and their significance for class conflict and social change in Maharashtra over the last 150 years.
ISSN:0012-9976
2349-8846