Question
What led to the rise of social inequality in ancient India?
Solution
There could be many reasons as to why social ineuality came into existence in ancient India. There are many views regarding it and the answer to it certainly lies with the perspective that is held by the scholars.
1. some scholars are of view that it was the economic inequality that gave rise to social inequality. Because there is a view that see's that at one point people existed in a primitive socialism, where everbody enjoyed everything equally but gradually things changed and and the idea of profit making began to emerge. Which eventually led to the inequality in the society. Thus there is a believe that if we socialise economy, it will create a scenario later where no social inequality will remain. In ancient India it was the upper caste that had this opportunity in the history to become rich and later to be upper in the hierarchy of caste system.
2. There are other scholars who believe that it is the existence of caste system that creates social inequality. The difference of the two view is that one trces the root and the cause, whereas in this view cause is the root. For example immenent scholars like Dr. Ambedkar believes that it was the caste sytem that gave rise to social inequality in the ancient society. Because it made some activity low and impure and those who did it as untouchables. With rigidity it withheld the society that mobility remained impossible, thus creating social inequality which to this day exist in the Indian society.
1. some scholars are of view that it was the economic inequality that gave rise to social inequality. Because there is a view that see's that at one point people existed in a primitive socialism, where everbody enjoyed everything equally but gradually things changed and and the idea of profit making began to emerge. Which eventually led to the inequality in the society. Thus there is a believe that if we socialise economy, it will create a scenario later where no social inequality will remain. In ancient India it was the upper caste that had this opportunity in the history to become rich and later to be upper in the hierarchy of caste system.
2. There are other scholars who believe that it is the existence of caste system that creates social inequality. The difference of the two view is that one trces the root and the cause, whereas in this view cause is the root. For example immenent scholars like Dr. Ambedkar believes that it was the caste sytem that gave rise to social inequality in the ancient society. Because it made some activity low and impure and those who did it as untouchables. With rigidity it withheld the society that mobility remained impossible, thus creating social inequality which to this day exist in the Indian society.
