In regions where the Non-Sanskritic castes were dominant, it was thei…

The correct answer is Option (3) → De-Sanskritisation

Option (1) Sanskritisation — Incorrect. Sanskritisation is the process by which a ‘low’ caste or tribe takes over the customs, ritual, beliefs and style of life of a high caste. Where a highly Sanskritised caste was dominant, the whole region underwent some Sanskritisation; the question describes the reverse case.

Option (2) Westernisation — Incorrect. M. N. Srinivas defines westernisation as the changes brought about in Indian society and culture as a result of over 150 years of British rule, in technology, institutions, ideology and values. It comes from the West, not from the influence of the non-Sanskritic castes of a region.

Option (3) De-Sanskritisation — Correct. Sanskritisation operated differently in different regions. In regions where the non-Sanskritic castes were dominant, it was their influence that was stronger, and the culture of the region moved away from the Sanskritic model. This is termed ‘de-Sanskritisation’.

Option (4) Modernisation — Incorrect. In the early years, modernisation referred to improvement in technology and production processes; later it came to mean the path of development that much of west Europe or North America has taken. It does not describe a region’s culture moving away from the Sanskritic model.