The question asks about the sociologist or political scientist who classified three distinct aspects of caste. Understanding how scholars view caste is crucial in studying Indian society.

Understanding Rajani Kothari's Classification of Caste

Rajani Kothari, a prominent political scientist, provided a comprehensive framework for understanding caste in modern India. He argued that caste is not merely a traditional social hierarchy but operates on multiple levels, especially within the political sphere.

Kothari classified caste into three main aspects:

• Secular Aspect: This refers to caste operating as an interest group in the political arena. Caste groups mobilize for political power, resources, and representation, acting like other pressure groups in a democratic system. This view emphasizes the adaptive and functional role of caste in modern politics.
• Ideological Aspect: This relates to the traditional hierarchical values and norms associated with the caste system. It encompasses the beliefs about purity and pollution, hierarchy, and inherited status that historically defined caste roles and relationships. Even in modern times, these traditional ideas can influence social interactions and power dynamics.
• Integrative Aspect: Kothari also saw caste as playing an integrative role. While seemingly divisive due to hierarchy, caste networks and identities can also serve as channels for communication, organization, and even integration into the larger social and political system, especially for groups previously excluded. Caste associations can provide a platform for collective action and identity formation.

This multi-dimensional approach by Rajani Kothari highlights the complexity of caste, moving beyond a simple view of it as just a traditional or oppressive system. He showed how caste adapts and functions within the dynamics of modern Indian democracy and society.

Based on this classification into secular, ideological, and integrative aspects, Rajani Kothari is the scholar associated with this framework.