Page 70 - SST Class 07

ominous, as the people of higher castes did not STATE FORMATION
allow the people of lower castes to mingle with
them or dine with them. As the people of higher When the people of a homogeneous group settle
castes had better resources with them, they down at one place, the process of state formation
begins. In the beginning, the people treat all
formed a stronger group and practised caste
discrimination. members of the group as equal. However, soon
there arises a need when some people have to
As a result of this caste discrimination,
come forward to lead. Generally, a powerful or
untouchability came to be practised in India. elderly person becomes a leader of this group. He
When a person is considered untouchable, he is
not allowed to mingle with other people, use the assumes many responsibilities and powers, as he
decides the disputes among the members of the
public places like baths or enter places of
worship. Sometimes, he is considered group and punishes the guilty. He also guides the
inauspicious for many purposes, as the people do other members to create facilities for themselves,
not touch him or talk to him. The social condition as digging a well or doing community work. As
of these untouchables became very pitiable in the the group expands, the more people assume
latter medieval period. powers and thus an entire powerful class comes
into being.

Info Bits The people of a tribe can move from one place to
Info Bits
another due to a variety of reasons, such as
Many social reformers made effort to eradicate political, geographical, trade or others. In many
untouchability, the effort of Mahatma Gandhi instances, the fertile and prosperous places have
proved more effective than all others. At present, attracted many tribes; as we can see that many
the Constitution of India has abolished people came and settled in the northern plains of
untouchability in all its forms.
India. When these people move in a large
Tribal and Nomad Structure number, they influence the local people; at the
On the other hand, a homogeneous society same time, they too are influenced by the local
treated all its members as equal. This was the case people. They accept the customs and traditions of
with the tribals and nomads. However, some of the local people, and in turn, their own customs
these people became leaders or chiefs; hence a and traditions are accepted by the local people.
process of high and low was started, but it With time, they become an integral part of the
remained on a low scale. society.

There are a large number of tribes in India, some
Quiz Time
of them are the Gaddis in Himachal Pradesh, the
Write True or False : Nagas in Nagaland, the Khasis in north-eastern

1. All members are treated equal in heterogeneous India, the Gonds in Central India, the Khokhars
society. __________ and Gakkhars in Punjab, the Ahoms in Assam
etc.
2. Brahmins belong to homogeneous society.
__________
3. In homogeneous society, an elderly or powerful
person becomes a leader. __________
4. The condition of untouchables was very pitiable
in the latter medieval period. __________

5. A heterogeneous society had a hierarchy of
people. __________
Gaddis Nagas
Contemporary Social Science-7
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