Jatibheda

Summary

In this review, Kshiti Mohan Sen’s book “Jatibheda” (Caste Difference) is assessed. Sen argues that the caste system was not intrinsic to early Aryan society but was borrowed from indigenous communities and gradually became rigid. He notes that while some reformers advocated rights for lower castes, the system often restricted the participation of large segments of society in cultural life. Using sources from ancient, medieval and modern periods, Sen traces the evolution of caste and its social impactfile:///home/oai/share/split_articles/jatibheda.pdf. The reviewer commends the work for its balanced analysis and its relevance to contemporary debates on caste.