Dominant caste
Topic: Gender, Religion and Caste in Politics · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
"Dominant caste" is a term the sociologist M.N. Srinivas used in 1959. It means a caste that has three features in a region: it is large in number, it owns much of the land and it holds local economic and political power. A dominant caste is not always ritually "highest" in the caste ladder. Its power comes from numbers, land and influence. Several dominant castes have agitated to be listed as backward to get reservation (seats and jobs kept aside for certain groups). These demands run into the 50% ceiling on reservations.
Example
The Jats, Marathas, Patidars, Vokkaligas, Lingayats, Reddys and Kammas are dominant castes in their regions. The Patidars (2015), Jats (2016) and Marathas (2018, 2023-24) agitated for backward status.
Don't confuse with
- Upper caste: a caste's high rank in the ritual ladder. A dominant caste is defined by its land, numbers and local power, whatever its ritual rank.