Which of the following statement (s) about 'antyaja' is/are correct?

Statement A - The categories defined as 'antyaja' were often expected to provide inexpensive labor to both peasants and zamindars.
Statement B - They (antyaja) were often subjected to social oppression but were included within economic networks.

Both statements are correct.

The correct answer is Option 3 - Both statements are correct.

Statement A - The categories defined as 'antyaja' were often expected to provide inexpensive labor to both peasants and zamindars.
Statement B - They (antyaja) were often subjected to social oppression but were included within economic networks.

Al-Biruni’s description of the caste system was deeply influenced by his study of normative Sanskrit texts which laid down the rules governing the system from the point of view of the Brahmanas. However, in real life the system was not quite as rigid. For instance, the categories defined as antyaja (literally, born outside the system) were often expected to provide inexpensive labour to both peasants and zamindars (Statement 1). In other words, while they were often subjected to social oppression, they were included within economic networks (Statement 2).