The caste system divides and grades labourers, unlike ordinary division of labour

Evidence

It is a pity that caste even today has its defenders. The defences are many. It is defended on the ground that the caste system is but another name for division of labour; and if division of labour is a necessary feature of every civilised society, then it is argued that there is nothing wrong in the caste system. Now the first thing that is to be urged against this view is that the caste system is not merely a division of labour. It is also a division of labourers. Civilised society undoubtedly needs division of labour. But in no civilised society is division of labour accompanied by this unnatural division of labourers into watertight compartments. The caste system is not merely a division of labourers—which is quite different from division of labour—it is a hierarchy in which the divisions of labourers are graded one above the other. In no other country is the division of labour accompanied by this gradation of labourers. — Ambedkar, B R, Annihilation of Caste_ The Annotated…, 858

Categorization

Category: Definitional Content

• DEFINE: Ambedkar’s core conceptual distinction: caste is a division of labourers arranged hierarchically, not a mere division of labour.

Related

• Caste is a graded hierarchy of labourers, not mere division of labour (similarity 0.97)
• Ambedkar argued caste divides labourers themselves, not just labour (similarity 0.91)
• Caste hierarchy gives every group a stake in preserving the system. (similarity 0.84)
• Every caste member including Untouchables practises some Brahminism against lower groups (similarity 0.81)
• Caste and chaturvarnya rest on opposed principles and are distinct systems. (similarity 0.81)
• Debate exists on whether caste persists or dissolves under liberalization (similarity 0.80)
• Ambedkar declared caste inequality must be rooted out, not merely untouchability (similarity 0.80)
• Caste’s core structure pairs purity-entitlement at top with pollution-duty at bottom (similarity 0.79)
• Abolishing sub-castes may actually strengthen and entrench the larger castes. (similarity 0.79)
• Indian workers divided by caste cannot unite against the rich (similarity 0.79)
• Sub-castes prove caste cannot rest on racial purity. (similarity 0.79)
• Castes are social divisions within one race, not racial divisions (similarity 0.79)
• Caste division prevents the proletariat from uniting for revolution (similarity 0.79)
• Ambedkar defined caste as an enclosed, endogamous class distinct from race and class (similarity 0.78)
• Dalit and Scheduled Caste refer to overlapping but distinct groups (similarity 0.78)