1. jAti preserves diversity
2. Birth-based social identities are more durable than money based statuses
Alternative to jAti is a system where money determines one's social worth
There will always be resistance to "pure materialism" as it is too fluid / impermanent
2. Birth-based social identities are more durable than money based statuses
Alternative to jAti is a system where money determines one's social worth
There will always be resistance to "pure materialism" as it is too fluid / impermanent
That's why there is resistance to "pure meritocracy" too
Because the culture of merit is closely linked to the culture of materialism.
People want their social identities to endure. Merit and money come in the way of that
Because the culture of merit is closely linked to the culture of materialism.
People want their social identities to endure. Merit and money come in the way of that
That doesn't mean that all the social identities people are born with are desirable or worth preserving
That's why you see endogamy loosening, formation of new endogamous units, and an interplay of jAti vyavastha and materialist culture in society
That's why you see endogamy loosening, formation of new endogamous units, and an interplay of jAti vyavastha and materialist culture in society
But my tweets above were to make a case for why an interplay will always exist
As opposed to a scenario where endogamy will vanish, and pure materialism will prevail
That will likely never happen
Because people care for things other than money, and merit
As opposed to a scenario where endogamy will vanish, and pure materialism will prevail
That will likely never happen
Because people care for things other than money, and merit
If an average Joe were to look for a wife, he won't just go fortune hunting trying to woo the girl with the richest dad in town
He balances that with things he cares for
Ethnic connect, compatibility of social / religious practices, lingual connect, among other things
He balances that with things he cares for
Ethnic connect, compatibility of social / religious practices, lingual connect, among other things
So there is this urge for preserving one's social and ethnic identity
Which quite often overwhelms the desire to get ahead in life, by marrying someone rich
Which quite often overwhelms the desire to get ahead in life, by marrying someone rich
What is actually countering caste is female hypergamy
Men may not desire always a rich wife
But women seek husbands better placed than them..
That does and will continue to create tensions, loosening endogamy
Men may not desire always a rich wife
But women seek husbands better placed than them..
That does and will continue to create tensions, loosening endogamy
