Which of the following is not a critique of Sanskritisation?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 2

The correct answer is Option (2) → Improve positional status for individuals

Option (1) Exaggerate social mobility — A critique of sanskritisation (Incorrect). The first criticism is that the concept exaggerates social mobility, the scope for ‘lower castes’ to move up the social ladder.

Option (2) Improve positional status for individuals — Not a critique (Correct). Sanskritisation is the process by which a caste takes up the rituals and ways of a higher caste to claim a higher place. That some individuals improve their position is what the process offers; the critics’ point is that it brings only positional change of some individuals and no structural change, so inequality goes on.

Option (3) Rests on purity and pollution — A critique of sanskritisation (Incorrect). It seems to justify a model that rests on inequality and exclusion, suggesting that belief in the pollution and purity of groups of people is all right.

Option (4) Dalit Culture eroded — A critique of sanskritisation (Incorrect). Since it means adopting upper-caste rites, the key characteristics of dalit culture and society are eroded, and the worth of the labour of the ‘lower castes’ is degraded.

NCERT (2025-26): “Sanskritisation … Sanskritisation as a concept has been criticised at different levels. One, it has been criticised for exaggerating social mobility or the scope of ‘lower castes’ to move up the social ladder. For it leads to no structural change but only positional change of some individuals. In other words inequality continues to persist though some individuals may be able to improve their positions within the unequal structure. Two, it has been pointed out that the ideology of sanskritisation accepts the ways of the ‘upper caste’ as superior and that of the ‘lower caste’ as inferior. Therefore, the desire to imitate the ‘upper caste’ is seen as natural and desirable. Third, ‘sanskritisation’ seems to justify a model that rests on inequality and exclusion. It appears to suggest that to believe in pollution and purity of groups of people is justifiable or all right.”

“Fourth, since sanskritisation results in the adoption of upper caste rites and rituals it leads to practices of secluding girls and women, adopting dowry practices instead of bride-price and practising caste discrimination against other groups, etc. Fifth, the effect of such a trend is that the key characteristics of dalit culture and society are eroded.…”