Dynamics of Kandyan Peasantries and the Rise of Rural Caste Elite in Sri Lanka
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Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Review (JSSHR) Vol. 3, Issue. 2 (101-123) © Author(s) June 2018 ISSN: 2279-3933 FROM DEFICIENCY TO AFFLUENCE: DYNAMICS OF KANDYAN PEASANTRIES AND THE RISE OF RURAL CASTE ELITE IN SRI LANKA K.A Samitha Udayanga1 Abstract During the past few decades, enormous changes in Kandyan peasantries 1 Department of have caused its restructuration, though some significant older structures Sociology, University of still remain intact swaying people’s behaviour. For example, attitudes toward the caste have been changed tremendously, but again it plays a Ruhuna-Sri Lanka significant role in contemporary rural Sri Lanka. Therefore, this paper [email protected] focuses on how people in Kandyan peasantries have been involved in the market-oriented development process, and in particular, why the low- https://orcid.org/0000- caste people in Kandyan highland peasantries benefitted from education, 0002-9826-691X once they have secured their economic gains while the high caste people have not. The research conducted using ethnomethodology reveals that the rural sector in Sri Lanka has undergone a convincing transition, while some traditional institutions were preserved. Within this transition, as the authoritative identity of the high caste people disturbed their education, in turn, prevented their upward mobility that of the low caste communities. Moreover, the market economy stimulated the upward mobility of low caste people in the contemporary Kandyan peasantries. As the market economy prevails in the country, some specific tasks performed by the low castes became market-oriented that and hastened the rise of rural elite from the low castes in Kandyan peasantries. The life of low caste elite then became stable and inspired them to drive toward a prestigious social status, during which education provided necessary means. Keywords: Caste System, Education, Elitism, Entrepreneurship, Kandyan Peasantries, Rationality 101 Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Review (JSSHR) Vol. 3, Issue. 2 (101-123) © Author(s) June 2018 ISSN: 2279-3933 INTRODUCTION Even though it is believed that the modern “Rationality” is an epistemologically society is being administered by so-called positioned argument by which modernity is rational values and principles (Weber, justified and has been adopted in 1947), still some significant factors, out of understanding people’s everyday lives in rational-realm, are highly influential the modern day (Shah, 2012). Though it is (Paramsothy, 2018). Caste is one among rather possible to argue that the concept of them. Many anthropologists understand the rationality is a quality which emanates caste system as a traditional stratification intrinsically from the society as it evolves system that cannot be defined in line with acquiring material growth and ideological modernity since rationality is not applicable sophistication, discrete extraction of to the caste system (Douwe van der Ploeg, irrationality is practically impossible since 2010) since ‘Rationality’ defined by human action is difficult to determine by modern philosophers clearly distinguish it way of rationality or irrationality, and from what laypersons perceive as rational. hence the human action would be a product [Note: Rationality and Irrationality are major of socially justified rationality, that is sociological concepts theorized by Max comprehended as rational solely by lay Weber(Weber, 1947). Rationality of the society persons (Chung, 2013; Tepicht, 1975). is not just a spontaneous result, but an outcome However, ‘rationality’ defined in of a historical development of a particular modernism is clearly distinguished from society with specific affiliations with science lay perceptions, though it seems to have and technology. In fact, rational institutions are interconnections between rationality and clearly distinguished from irrational societal irrationality. Education, a more rational structures such as caste, race and the kind.] On the contrary, “class” is identified as a institution, for example, might intersects modern stratification system, since it can be with the caste resulting unexpected understood through rational principles consequences even in modern and complex delineated by some social anthropologists urban societies. (Ember & Ember, 2015). Rationality is one Moreover, as the nation-state is engaged in of the main characteristics, which a rational policy-making process, to ensure distinguishes modern societies from that the development of the country is traditional societies. However, both rational achieved has become the ultimate objective and irrational factors are equally important of its political agenda. Since decolonization in understanding human action, since of the country, national leaders have strived human interactions do not depend solely on to develop the country in many dimensions. deliberate rational or irrational thinking In this process, a systematic human (Moran, 2000). Beliefs on which intervention with a justification through laypersons relied in a society are always rational principles was required, and hence rational to them, but nevertheless, those economic measures came forward at the beliefs can perhaps be reinterpreted as outset of the development discourse as it irrational by an outsider provided that comprises of rational principles such as nonconventional and contextual-insensitive causation (Desai & Potter, 2011). Although methods were employed though they can be the development process goes about in line more scientific (Husserl, 1965; Rescher, with rational principles, the challenging 2003). Living experiences of people are, issue is to involve people since they comply therefore, more important since people with lay-specific rationalities over imposed often comprehend those experiences are modern rationalities (Shiva, 1991). more rational to them (Schutz, 1977). 102 Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Review (JSSHR) Vol. 3, Issue. 2 (101-123) © Author(s) June 2018 ISSN: 2279-3933 So-called rational interventions, therefore, The administrative interventions in rural Sri might be reinterpreted in accordance with Lanka did not emphasize any ascribed perceived rationality by laypersons, that statuses theoretically, though in the practice would result in unexpected consequences. it is associated with conventional social structures (Robinson, 2007). The Furthermore, as the globalization, a rational regulations instructed administrators to and inevitable process prevails, every select suitable peasants to some rural corner of the world might experience administrative positions were purely made significant changes alongside challenges on the qualification basis, but the (Eckes & Zeiler, 2003; Giddens, 2003; administrative positions (such as Held, 2004; Held, McGrew, Glodblatt, & agricultural instructors in rural Sri Lanka) Perraton, 1999; Stiglitz, 2002). were allocated to the high caste people Globalization reshapes the world. Global since the social structure did not support capital accumulation alongside otherwise. This disturbed many aspects of technological networking provides the social organization including economy, necessary means for the globalization, religion and politics of rural Sri Lanka. which is also interpreted as a more rational Furthermore, as confusions of this process (Giddens, 2003). Globalization transition highly affected conventional brought several unprecedented changes in social structures, peasants adopted new the third world and had challenged many value systems in their every day lives to go irrational structures (such as caste) and along with the changing society (Spencer, harnessed the mobility of people (Beteille, 1990). Rationality, therefore, shall be 2015; Leach, 1960; Roberts, 1995). interpreted not in accordance with Sometimes, as existing structure changes, modernity but based on people’s perception unprecedented troubles too emerged in relation to their everyday experiences. particularly in peasantries in Sri Lanka [note: As Raghavan (1957) specifies that (Robinson, 2007; Spencer, 1990; Uphoff, rodiyas (Rodi or Gadi is the lowest caste in the 1992). Furthermore, upward mobilization Sinhalese caste hierarchy) perceive of peasantries has been largely supported themselves as a special and important group by prevailing global values emanating from in the society while other high caste people the systematically established education consider themselves inferior. This asserts system, which in turn reinforced that perceptions of being a member of a inculcating the mode of modern thoughts in particular caste or a group are significant in the rural people. Peasantries in Sri Lanka understanding people’s behaviour.] too were influenced by the re-systematized global education during the past two This makes it clear that rational decades, due to interventions by global interventions such as development cannot institutions such as UNICEF and UNDP separate from practices of the people, (UNDP, 2017). which are more rational to them though they might not be rational in the modern As Robinson (2007) posits rational political sphere. Many studies show that rational and administrative interventions after the institutions might intersect with irrational 1950’s in Sri Lanka, highly impacted on the institutions, as they are interconnected rural society. Traditional political within the social structure. Education like structures, particularly administrative rational institutions, therefore, might institutions of many rural societies were support