Q. In the context of the changing Indian society, how do you view Andre Beteille's conceptions of harmonic and disharmonic social structures? (2022)

Q. In the context of the changing Indian society, how do you view Andre Beteille's conceptions of harmonic and disharmonic social structures? (2022)

Andre Beteille has proposed a distinction between two kinds of stratification systems which he calls 'harmonic' and 'disharmonic'.

• It is one in which there is consistency between the normative order and the existential order
• It is the one in which the norms and values of society legitimize social inequality
• Society is divided into groups which are placed high and low, and the divisions and their ordering are considered as right, proper and desirable or as a part of the natural scheme of things

Further, caste was organized on the principle of cumulative inequalities.The higher castes owned vested lands and were axial points in political matters, while the untouchables being low in caste hierarchy were debarred from political and economic participation. The Jajmani system demonstrates the functioning of such a harmonic system.

Also, this was legitimized by scriptures. Through the Guna theory, Brahmanism seeks to justify the social hierarchy of the varna system (hitherto taken for granted) in terms of different qualities and capacities of the individuals.

In modern times, however, the unleashing of democratic politics, industrialisation, education, secularization of society, migration and such social forces has led to disturbance in this balance. It has disturbed the harmonic system leading to disharmonic systems.

He defines the 'disharmonic' social structures as follows:

• In this system there is a lack of consistency between the existential and the normative orders
• One form is where 'the norm of equality is contradicted by the persuasive existence of inequality'
• This seems to characterize much of modern western civilizations, including America in its later history, where despite the idealization of equality, the class structure continues to be an important part of Western social reality

• In what has been called India's "hidden apartheid" entire villages in many Indian states remain completely segregated by caste
• In many North Indian villages, only the upper castes are allowed to perform rituals like Ghudsawari (marriage ritual among Hindus)
• Dalit students are constantly discriminated against not just in schools but also in higher education institutions by their peers and teachers

Thus, Beteille's concept of harmonic and disharmonic systems provides us with an insightful understanding of the complexities of social stratification systems. It breaks the common myth that modern societies are more egalitarian and harmonic than ancient and medieval societies.