A dominant caste is one which preponderates numerically over other

caste Caste is a form of social stratification characterised by endogamy, hereditary transmission of a style of life which often includes an occupation, ritual status in a hierarchy, and customary social interaction and exclusion based on cultura ...

s and also wields preponderant economic and political power. A large and powerful caste group can be more easily dominant if its position in the local caste hierarchy is not too low. The concept of dominant caste was introduced in 1959 by sociologist

M. N. Srinivas Mysore Narasimhachar Srinivas (1916–1999) was an Indian sociologist and social anthropologist. He is mostly known for his work on caste and caste systems, social stratification, Sanskritisation and Westernisation in southern India and th ...

Characteristics

Srinivas asserts that to be a dominant caste, a caste must have the following characteristics: * It must own a sizeable amount of cultivable land. * It must be of considerable numerical strength. * It must enjoy a high place in the local caste hierarchy. Western education, jobs in administration and political clout and contacts have been considered by subsequent authors to be additional factors of dominance.

References

{{reflist Caste