Indian Social System: Anthropology Optional PYQs

3.1 The structure and nature of traditional Indian social system – Varnashram, Purushartha, Karma, Rina and Rebirth 

1. Write a note on Varnashram dharma in 200 words (1982)
2. Write a note in 200 words : Significance of Varna and Ashram as regulators of social life(.1984)
3. Write a note on Purushartha chatushtam. (1987) 
4. Write a note on Social Significance of Grihastha-ashram (1994)
5. Describe the major purusharthas according to Hindu scriptures and discuss the social significance of Harmonious management of ‘Trivarga’. (1994)
6. Explain the concept of “Rina” according to the Hindu Scriptures. What were the mechanisms suggested by the scholars to reply the “Rinas” ?(1995)
7. Write a note on Importance of Karma in Hindu social system (1996)
8. Write a note on Concept of rebirth in Hindu Social System (1997)
9. Write a note on Significance of Varna and Caste (1997) 
10. Discuss the basic of Indian Social System. Do you find any change today ? (1998) 
11. Write a note on Concept of Karma in relation to caste (2000)
12. Write a note on Concept of Rina Rebirth. (2002)
13. Write a note on Significance of Purushartha (2003)
14. Trace the broad unifying features of the traditional Hindu society in the anthropological perspective. (2004)
15. Write a note on Varnashram (2005)
16. Write a note on Karma (2006) 
17. Write a note on Purushartha (2007) 
18. Write a note in 150 words on Philosophy behind Purushartha (2011)
19. Write a note in 150 words on Varnashram and the concept of Rina. (1984)
20. Write a note in 150 words on Philosophy behind Purusharthas (2018) 
21. Write a note in 150 words on Use of doctrine of Karma and rebirth in justifying the Varna system.(2019)
22. Write short notes on “Purushartha and righteous living today” in about 150 words. (2021) 

3.2 Caste system in India- structure and characteristics, Varna and caste, (1990) Theories of origin of caste system, Dominant caste, Caste mobility, Future of caste system, Jajmani system, Tribe caste continuum.

1. Discuss the inter-related concepts of Varna and Jati Caste. Do you agree with the view that in the context of existing realities in village India, it is the Caste that is important and not the Varna ? (1981)
2. Write a note on (200 words) : Concept of dominant caste and its relevance in the study of political processes. (1982)
3. Write a note in 200 words : Inter-caste hierarchy in any region of India.(1983)
4. Write a note in 200 words : Distinction between tribe and caste.(1984)
5. Examine the changes that have come about in caste system and joint family in modern India(1984)
6. Write a note on Varna model of caste. (1986)
7. Write a note on Tribe-caste continuum (1987)
8. Write a note on Concept of purity and the caste system.(1988)
9. Discuss relationship between “dominant caste” and economic development” in  rural India. (1988)
10. Discuss the concept of social signification and comment on caste as a stratified system of interaction. (1989)
11. Write a note on Role of Dominant caste in the political institutions of a peasant village. (1990)
12. Discuss the essential features of the caste system in India. Critically examine its role in the changing social context in contemporary times. (1990)
13. Write a note on Concept of caste as a hierarchical system based on the opposition between ‘pure’ and ‘impure’ (1991)
14. What is the notion of ‘folk-urban continuum’ in the study of peasant society? Is it applicable to Indian conditions ? (1991)
15. Write a note on Tribe caste continuum (1992)
16. Describe the tribe-caste continuum in India. Is this continuum relevant in Modern Indian society ?(1994)
17. Write a note on; Distinguish between  varna and caste (1995) 
18. Examine the role of joint family in Hindu social system and its impacts caste system. (1997)
19. Write a note on Folk-Urban Continuum  (1998)
20. Write a note on Jajmani System (1998)
21. Write a note on Dominant Caste (1999) 
22. Write a note on Tribe-caste continuum (2000) 
23. Define the Jajmani system. Analyse the changes in the relationship between caste and occupation in contemporary rural society.(2000)
24. Explain criteria for dominant caste. How far is this concept still crucial to our understanding of India’s villages after implementation of reservations in democratic institutions ? Discuss.
25. Write a note on Caste as a pattern of social stratification (2003)
26. Write a note on Tribe-Caste Continuum (2004)
27. Write a note on Jajmani System (2007) 
28. Is Tribe-Caste Continuum a reality or myth ? Discuss. (2008)
29. Discuss the salient features of the prevalent hypotheses on the future of the caste system in India. (2009)
30. Bring out the various features and the importance of the ‘dominant caste’  (2009)
31. Examine the role of the caste system in the present political context. (2010)
32. Is the present political system strengthening the caste system ? Discuss.(2010)
33. Discuss the relevance of the concept Dominant Caste in the context of Contemporary Indian Society. (2011)
34. Critically examine the theories of Origin of Castes. (2011)
35. Write a note in 150 words on : Discuss how Louis Dumont explained caste system. (2013)
36. What is Jajmani system ? Examine the views on Jajmani system as an egalitarian as well as exploitative system. Give reasons for its decline (375 words) (2013)
37. Examine the criticisms on the concept of dominant caste. (250 words) (2013)
38. Write a note in 150 words on TribeCaste continuum (2014)
39. Do you think caste persists in contemporary India ? Critically discuss (2014)
40. Define the concept ‘Dominant Caste and examine its relevance in the contemporary Indian village with suitable examples. (2014)
41. Critically examine the concept of tribe caste continuum and its relevance in contemporary India. (2015)
42. What do you understand by dynamics of caste mobility ? How did the concept of Sanskritization contribute to its functionality ? (2015)
43. Write a note in 150 words on Relevance| of caste in contemporary Indian politics (2016)
44. Examine the structural and cultural theories of caste system in India. (2016) 
45. How is process of tribe-caste continuum different from Sanskritisation ? Comment(2016)  
46. Discuss the impact of market economy  on the Jajmani system. (2017)
47. Based on historical and contemporary  evidences, discuss the future of caste system in India. (2018) 
48. Discuss the view that caste is not social stratification, but a system of hierarchy.(2018)
49. Explain the significance of tribe-caste continuum in the present context.(2018)
50. Write a note in 150 words on The Jajmani system and contemporary market economy. (2019) 
51. Discuss the characteristics of caste system in India. (2020)
52. Write short note on the Concept of ‘Dominant’ caste in about 150 words (2020)
53. Write short notes on “Relevance of tribe – caste continuum” in about 150 words.(2021)
54. Write short notes on “Caste and social capital” in about 150 words. (2021)
55. Write short notes on “Factionalism and politics in rural India” in about 150 words.(2021)

3.3 Sacred Complex and Nature- Man-Spirit Complex.

1. Write a note in 200 words: Nature- man Spirit Complex (1983)
2. Write a note on Concept of sacred complex in the Indian Society. (1990) 
3. Write a note on Basic principles concerned with nature-man-spirit complex (1993)
4. Write a note on Sacred Complex(1999)
5. Write a note on Nature-Man-Spirit complex (2001) 
6. Write a note on Sacred complex (2005) 
7. Write a note on Nature-Man-Spirit complex (2009) 
8. Write a note in 150 words on Sacred Geography (2012) 
9. Examine Nature – man – spirit complex as an ecological concept. (250 words) (2013) 
10. Describe the concept of ‘Sacred Complex’ with an ethnographic example. (2014)
11. Write a note in 150 words on Sacred complex as a dimension of Indian civilization (2015) 
12. Write a note in 150 words on Nature -Write a note in 150 words on Nature (2017)
13. Critically examine the contributions of Makhan Jha and B.N. Saraswati to the study of sacred complexes in India (2018) 
14. Explain the impact of the concept of nature-man-spirit complex on sustainable use of natural resources with suitable examples. (2021)

3.4 Impact of Buddhism, Jainism, Islam and Christianity on Indian society.

1. Account for the emergence of new religions in India in the 6th century B.C (1998) 
2. Evaluate the impact of Buddhism, Jainism, Islam and Christianity on Indian society and culture in anthropological terms. (2003)
3. Write a note on Buddhism, Christianity and Scheduled Castes (2004)
4. Write a note on Impact of Islam on Indian society (2005) 
5. Write a note in 150 words on Sufi tradition of Islam (2013) 
6. Discuss the contribution of Islam to the composite culture of India. (2014) 
7. Write a note in 150 words on Islam and  Matriliny. (2015) 
8. Write a note in 150 words on Impact of Jainism on Indian society.(2016)
9. Explain how Buddhism influenced the economic and cultural transformations of Indian society.(2017)
10. Explain the impact of Buddhism and Jainism on Indian society.(2018)
11. What has been the impact of non-Hindu religions on the emancipation of Schedule Castes in India ? (2019) 
12. Discuss the impact of Islam on Indian Society. (2020)