Sanskritisation a P Barnabas

THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY April 15, 1961 Sanskritisation A P Barnabas As both the processes of sanskritisation and westernisation are going on at the same time, there is a conflicting, or more correctly, a confusing situation. On the one hand, there are the lower castes trying to take on the traditional values and customs of the upper castes, to raise their status. On the other hand, the upper castes are discarding some of these customs. Westernisation may be characterised as a movement from the. sacred to the secular. It is difficult to characterise Sanskritisation in a 'toe red-secular' of 'folk-urban frame of reference. In any case, from the view point of culture content the more important aspect to be noted is that these processes are likely to result in having a common set of cultural elements in all of Hindu society. At the same time, there is an element of "conflict" between westernisation and Sanskritisation. Most of the castes are faced with a dilemma of making a choice. With increased industrialisation, greater communication, new occupations, greater education, it seems likely that westernisation will be the more dominant process. THE form of 'Sanskritisation' was The word "Sanskritisation" is "There was another suggestion first used by Prof M N Srinivas rather difficult to understand. The made that we should discard a in his book Religion and Society immediate reaction on seeing the local term like Sanskrilisation for Among the Coorgs of India. This word is that it must be related to acculturation. I think this should book is a study of the Coorgs—a caste "Sanskrit", the classical and sacred be rejected for the reason that like group of people in India occupy languages of the Hindus. acculturation takes a particular ing the area called Coorg, located The Word Itself form in Hindu society and we on the south west coast. The Coorgs want to characterize this particular are divided into two sections, one The other word that could have form of acculturation of which is "highly Brahminised in been used is "Brahminisation" but Generalizations about acculturation their customs and ritual'' Srinivas Srinivas rejects this for the following all over the world are a bit too says that these Coorgs "exemplify a reasons: premature." tendency which has always been pre (1 ) Brahminisation is sub-assum Red field, who was at the conference, sent in the caste system; a small ed in the wider process of Sanskriti commented as follows: group of people break off from a sation: larger whole, of which they are a ''I entirely agree with the sug part. Sanskritise their customs and (2) the customs and habits of gestion that the process of accu ritual and achieve a higher status Brahmins changed after they settled lturation that is going on in India than their parent body in the course in India; and should be indicated by a special term because the process itself is of a few decades'". (3) the agents of Sanskritisation special. In acculturation general were not, and are not always Brah Sanskritisation is defined by Srini ly, a group takes over elements of mins. vas as follows: culture not practised by that Another factor involved is that "The caste system is far from a group. Sanskritisation is a pro the word "Brahminisation" evokes rigid system in which the position cess whereby elements of tradition the connotation of Vedic traditions, of each component caste is fixed more nearly universal and more but 'not all aspects of sanskritisation reflectively cultivated are commu for all time. Movement has always are Vedic. been possible and especially so in nicated to. and some often con the middle regions of hierarchy. At one of the conferences where sciously assumed by a group whose local folk culture has long contri A low caste was able, in a gene the concept was discussed, the word buted and drawn from reflective ration or two to rise to higher "Hinduisation' was suggested —but culture. The process is taking position in the hierarchy by adopt as it smacked of proselytization, it place within a civilized community ing vegetarianism and teetotal ism was not accepted. Further the word not only characterized by a high ami by Sanskritizing its ritual suggests that many of the lower castes are not Hindus which is not tradition but also by a more local ami pantheon. In short, it look and uureflective tradition. There over as far as possible the customs, true. Also Hinduism includes many non-Sanskrit elements. Another sug are levels or stages of culture and rites, and beliefs of the Brahmins the arrangements of the stages are and the adoption of the Brahminic gestion was "imitation'' but the pro cess of Sanskritization involves more affected and altered by the process way of life by a low caste seems to than mere imitation. of sanskritisation. This is quite have been frequent though theore different from the process which tically forbidden. This process has To the suggestion that "accultu- occurred when the red Indians met been called Sanskritisation in this ration" be used, Srinivas gave the European traders who came into 8 book." following reply: contact with them. Therefore in 613 April 15, 1961 THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY April 15, 1061 my view it is good we find a spe preference for virginity in brides, "The pantheistic bias in Hinduism cial term to express this process."6 chastity in wives, and continence in also contributes to Sanskritisation of Srinivas himself said the word was widows. This is especially marked the deities and beliefs of the low "ugly", but at the end of the dis among the highest castes. The lower castes and outlying communities. The cussion he felt that nothing that had have not been very rigid in their sex doctrine that everything in the uni been said had convinced him that he code, but as the castes rise in the verse is animated by God; that all should change the word. hierarchy, it becomes more and more the various deities are only forms The Process Sanskritised and, in sex and mar assumed by the same Brahma makes riage, the code of the Brahmins is the process of absorption easier.1'10 "The structural basis of Hindu taken over. Widow remarriage and 'The stratification of the Hindu society is caste and it is not possible divorce are restricted. Srinivas him society into castes has in a sense to understand sanskritisation without self says, "Sanskritization results in 8 helped Sanskritisation because in any reference to the structural frame harshnness towards women." In hierarchial system, there is a tenden work in which it occurs. the sphere of kinship, the patrilineal lineage is stressed among the Brah cy to imitate the customs, habits, "Speaking generally the castes 11 mins, hence the importance of the manners of the top group.'' occupying the top positions in the sons. The most important factor in the hierarchy are more sanskritised than hindrance for the process is the re the castes in the lower and middle Sanskritisation also means the sentment of other castes against any ranges of the hierarchy and this has adoption of new ideas and values caste that tries to raise its status. been responsible for the sanskritisa which have been expounded in Sans- Often political and economic pres tion of the lower castes as well as the kritic literature. Such the6logicaI sures are put. At times even physi outlying tribes. The lower castes terms as Karma (predestination and cal force is used to prevent the lower seem to have always tried to take rebirth), dharma (duty), papa (shih castes' taking on the customs and the over the customs and ways of life of punya (merit and deliverance) rituals of higher castes. Cohn men the higher castes. The theoretical maya (illusory nature of the world), tions the fact that Thakurs used existence of a ban on their adoption samsara (universal), and moksha political and economic pressure and of Brahmanical customs and rites (liberation) are used frequently. also physical violence to keep the was not very effective and this is These were essentially related to Chamars in place. In my own study clear when we consider the fact that Vedas and the discussion confined of North Indian Village, one of the many non-Brahmanical castes prac mostly to Brahmins. more educated Brahmins said, "If the tise many Brahmanical customs and Helps and Hinderances lower castes attempted to disobey rires"7 What has been said go far may Brahmins they would ask them not As this process was common to all seem to suggest that the process of to walk on their fields. If they do, the castes except the highest, it meant Sanskritisation goes on without hin we can manhandle them physically." that the Brahmanic customs and way drances. This is not true. The very As the houses of the lower castes of life spread among the Hindus. fact that it takes decades and decades were located in the midst of the However, the immediate group that for a caste to raise its status is indi fields of the Brahmins, the lower was imitated by the lower castes was cative of the slowness of the process castes would not be able to move out the locally dominant group. As the and slowness is an indication of the of the houses at all. As the upper dominant caste began to take on opposition. "Once inside Sanskritic castes hold most of the land, are more of the Brahminical customs and Hinduism, the local rites and beliefs better educated, hence have the eco rites, the latter slowly seeped down undergo Sanskritisation rapidly in a nomic and the political power to to the lower castes as well and, hence, thoroughgoing manner." In the subdue them .

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