The Ethnographic Survey of India as part of the Census 1901 was conducted to __________
Understanding the 1901 Ethnographic Survey
The Ethnographic Survey of India, conducted as part of the Census of 1901, was initiated primarily to gather information about the diverse tribes and castes across India. This data collection was framed within the context of British colonial rule.
Survey Objectives and Colonial Context
The British administration sought to understand the intricate social fabric of India. Key objectives included:
- Documenting tribal and caste structures, customs, and beliefs.
- Classifying groups based on perceived racial and cultural characteristics.
- Understanding social hierarchies and potential sources of conflict or unrest.
Reasoning for the Survey's Focus
The survey aimed to provide administrators with data that could help manage the complexities of ruling a vast and diverse population. By studying the 'racial' and cultural characteristics, the British could:
- Mitigate issues: The underlying goal was to identify and potentially manage or mitigate perceived racial and cultural differences that complicated governance and maintained social order from the British perspective. This involved understanding group dynamics to prevent challenges to colonial authority.
- Inform Policy: The findings were intended to inform administrative policies and actions, although the primary driver was the management of colonial rule itself, rather than solely the welfare or legislative needs of the Indian subjects in a modern sense.
Therefore, the survey was intrinsically linked to addressing the challenges the British faced in governing India, particularly concerning its diverse populations.
Important Questions from Indian Structure: Caste–Class–Tribe
Match the following authors in Column I with their books on caste in Column II.
Column I Column II Author Book M Mukul Sharma 1 Caste Pride N Joel Lee 2 Deceptive Majority O Manoj Mitta 3 The Oxford Handbook of Caste P Surinder Jodhka 4 Caste and Nature Match the following scholars in Column I and their contributions in Column II.
Column I Column II Scholar Contribution M Prem Chowdhry 1 Dalit feminist standpoint position N Sharmila Rege 2 Yuganta O Irawati Karve 3 Gender and land rights in South Asia P Beena Agarwal 4 Caste and gender formation in Haryana - Which of the following statement(s) about tribes is/are CORRECT?
Which of the following proposition(s) is/are part of the argument that B. R. Ambedkar makes in his Caste in India: Their Mechanism, Genesis and Development
- Much before M. N. Srinivas' concept of ‘sanskritisation', which of the following scholar(s) framed caste as a process of imitation and social closure?
