Numerical Preponderance: A Determinant of Dominant Caste in Contemporary India

Page: 320-323
Priyanka (Department of Anthropology, Ranchi University, Ranchi, Jharkhand)

During the 1950s, village studies in India were at their peak. Many prominent scholars developed concepts based on village studies in order to comprehend the intricacy of Indian civilization. These concepts undoubtedly simplified the understanding of functioning of Indian society at large. On the basis of village studies undertaken by Srinivas, the concept of Dominant Caste was developed over time by him. The concept was proposed in order to understand India’s social system at its grass root level. This paper is based on the micro study of the village Mogalpara of Jharkhand in eastern India and tries to highlight one of the elements of dominance, namely, numerical power, in the context of contemporary Indian society.