Prelims · 6 Indian Society · 6.3 Indian sociology and thinkers

6.3.3 Louis Dumont and Andre Beteille: hierarchy, purity–pollution and caste, class and power

Dumont explained caste as a single ideological system built on the opposition of pure and impure, in which status ranks above power; Beteille's field study showed caste, class and power coming apart in a changing Tamil village.

  • APPSC Group 2 · Prelims
  • Standard level
  • 9 min read
  • Full course

Key terms

  • Louis Dumont
  • Homo Hierarchicus
  • purity and pollution
  • hierarchy
  • status and power
  • Contributions to Indian Sociology
  • David Pocock
  • Andre Beteille
  • Caste Class and Power
  • Sripuram
  • Tanjore
  • cumulative inequality
  • dispersed inequality
  • sub-classification

What this note covers

  1. Core factsFoundation
  2. ExplainedStandard
  3. DeeperAdvanced
  4. AP angleStandard
  5. Mains writingMains writing
  6. Common trapsFoundation
  7. Quick revisionFoundation

Read the full note in the app. It is part of the APPSC Group 2 full course in Medha AI. Free in the app: the first chapter of each topic.

Read the full note in the app Indian Society questions with answers

All Indian sociology and thinkers notes · APPSC Group 2 syllabus · APPSC G2 Prelims Mock 1 with answers · Start free

Medha AI writes its own notes and checks them against the sources listed. Medha AI is an independent preparation service. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to APPSC, TSPSC, MPSC, UPSC or any other commission or government body.