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Stratification In Manusmriti

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Emancipating the Shudras: The Ideas of Manusmriti and Dr. Ambedkar

IT IS A TRUTH UNIVERSALLY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT among all the societies of the Hindu society has the most complex stratification. And unlike every other society in the world, it not only has class based stratification, but also a caste based one, which makes it doubly complex. Caste and class in India are deeply interrelated and intermixed. In fact the caste system is the building block of the Indian society. It not only propagates a master-slave binary, but also creates hierarchies within this binary (Brahmans, Kshatrias and Vaishyas can be the masters of the Sudras and Ati-Sudras but not vice-versa). Manusmriti is one of the first social documents from which this …show more content…

And why was Manusmriti given such an eminent position in the Hindu society even if it had other scriptures, like the Vedas, which are not as oppressing? Centuries later, the answer is probably given by Louis Althusser, albeit unknowingly, in his essay Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses. After reading both these pieces (Manusmriti and Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses) it can be very easily deduced that Manusmriti was written “by the Brahman”, “of the Brahmans” and “for the Brahmans”. The aim was obviously to consolidate the position Brahmins and the Kshatrias, and to ensure the subjugation of the lower caste people (Dr. B R Ambedkar ). They were not allowed to earn and gather wealth, even if they were able to do so because it would cause pain to Brahmans; because wealth brings power along with it. Thus this suppression of the Sudras, who could pose a threat to the Brahman monopolized society, was most important. This text served as an “Ideological Apparatus” for the ruling classes. They used the laws given in this text to hegemonise (gain their consensus for their own oppression) the lower castes, so that they always have a readymade supply of laborers. The punishments given in this text as well as the Kshatrias (the government) acted as the Repressive State Apparatuses and punished anyone who transgressed the law cruelly, to install fear in others of that community. Thus, the Brahmans had the power and they created the truth as it suited their need

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