Many Dalit communities in South India rejected the caste system and adopted a distinct identity based on their regional and indigenous culture. What can this process be called?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → De-Sanskritisation
Option (1) De-Sanskritisation — Correct. In regions where the non-Sanskritic castes were dominant, their own influence was stronger than that of the Sanskritic upper castes; this is termed de-Sanskritisation. With the anti-Brahminical movement and the growth of regional self-consciousness, there were attempts to drop Sanskrit words, and Dalits now take pride in their identity as Dalits. Dalit communities that reject the caste system and build an identity on their own regional and indigenous culture are going through this process.
Option (2) Liberalisation — Incorrect. Liberalisation is an economic policy: privatisation, loosening of government controls on trade and capital, and lower import duties. It has nothing to do with caste identity.
Option (3) Westernisation — Incorrect. Westernisation means the changes in Indian society and culture that came from British rule. The communities in the question turn to their own indigenous culture, not to Western ways.
Option (4) Sanskritisation — Incorrect. Sanskritisation is the opposite movement: a ‘lower’ caste takes over the customs, rituals and style of life of a high caste to rise in the caste hierarchy. The Dalit communities here reject that hierarchy instead of trying to climb it.
NCERT (2025-26): “Sanskritisation … Studies of different areas, however, show that it operated differently in different parts of the country. In those areas where a highly Sanskritised caste was dominant, the culture of the entire region underwent a certain amount of Sanskritisation. In regions where the non-Sanskritic castes were dominant, it was their influence that was stronger. This can be termed the process of ‘de-Sanskritisation’. There were other regional variations too. In Punjab culturally Sanskritic influence was never very strong. For many centuries until the third quarter of the 19th century, the Persian influence was the dominant one.…” “Sanskritisation … With the growth of the anti-Brahminical movement and the development of regional self-consciousness in the twentieth century there was an attempt in several Indian languages to drop Sanskrit words and phrases. A crucial result of the Backward Classes Movement was to emphasise the role of secular factors in the upward mobility of caste groups and individuals. In the case of the dominant castes, there was no longer any desire to pass for the Vaisyas, Kshatriyas and Brahmins. On the other hand, it was prestigious to be a member of the dominant caste. Recent years have seen likewise assertions of Dalits who now pride their identity as Dalits.” |