DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.31218#0024
APPENDIX TO CHAPTER I
Ve?'nacular Terminology
The word ‘caste’ translates two vernacular terms with
different meanings. The first is zat (breed), with qaum
(tribe) as a synonym; the second is biradari or bhaiband
(brotlierhood). The zat is the caste as a whole; the
biradari is the group of caste brethren who live in a par-
ticular neighbourhood and act together for caste purposes.
The biradari, quantitatively considered, is a mere fraction
of the zat; qualitatively considered, it is the zat in action.
The use of the word ‘caste’ in the two senses has. caused
some confusion. When we speak of ‘caste customs’ and
‘caste offences’, the customs are those of the zat and the
offences are against the whole zat; but when we speak of
‘caste’ assemblies, ‘caste’ councils, and punishments
inflicted by the ‘caste’, the assemblies and councils are
of the biradari and it is the biradari which inflicts the
punishments. One brotherhood will occasionally refuse
to recognize a penalty inflicted by another, a fact which
shows their independence.
The terminology of subdivisions of the caste is ex-
tremely vague. In 1885 Sir Denzil Ibbetson, Sir Herbert
Risley ancl Mr. Nesfield laid down certain English terms
for use in ethnographical enquiries. They divided castes
into (i) castes, and (ii) tribes (which correspond respectively
to what I have called functional and tribal castes); the
smallest endogamous groups within a caste and tribe were
called ‘subcaste’ and ‘subtribe’ respectively; the largest
exogamous groups were designated ‘section’ and ‘sept’.
The attempt failed largely because there were no general
vernacular terms to correspond. Nikas (origin) : bans,
mul (stock) : al, kul (family) : gotra (group) of agnates
—are the commonest terms; but different castes use them
in different senses, and many castes have terms of their
own : e.g. nukh (Bhatia), pal (Jat), pangat (Bansphor),
bani (Halwai), that (Gangari Brahman), and kuri (Aga-
ria).
IO
Ve?'nacular Terminology
The word ‘caste’ translates two vernacular terms with
different meanings. The first is zat (breed), with qaum
(tribe) as a synonym; the second is biradari or bhaiband
(brotlierhood). The zat is the caste as a whole; the
biradari is the group of caste brethren who live in a par-
ticular neighbourhood and act together for caste purposes.
The biradari, quantitatively considered, is a mere fraction
of the zat; qualitatively considered, it is the zat in action.
The use of the word ‘caste’ in the two senses has. caused
some confusion. When we speak of ‘caste customs’ and
‘caste offences’, the customs are those of the zat and the
offences are against the whole zat; but when we speak of
‘caste’ assemblies, ‘caste’ councils, and punishments
inflicted by the ‘caste’, the assemblies and councils are
of the biradari and it is the biradari which inflicts the
punishments. One brotherhood will occasionally refuse
to recognize a penalty inflicted by another, a fact which
shows their independence.
The terminology of subdivisions of the caste is ex-
tremely vague. In 1885 Sir Denzil Ibbetson, Sir Herbert
Risley ancl Mr. Nesfield laid down certain English terms
for use in ethnographical enquiries. They divided castes
into (i) castes, and (ii) tribes (which correspond respectively
to what I have called functional and tribal castes); the
smallest endogamous groups within a caste and tribe were
called ‘subcaste’ and ‘subtribe’ respectively; the largest
exogamous groups were designated ‘section’ and ‘sept’.
The attempt failed largely because there were no general
vernacular terms to correspond. Nikas (origin) : bans,
mul (stock) : al, kul (family) : gotra (group) of agnates
—are the commonest terms; but different castes use them
in different senses, and many castes have terms of their
own : e.g. nukh (Bhatia), pal (Jat), pangat (Bansphor),
bani (Halwai), that (Gangari Brahman), and kuri (Aga-
ria).
IO