Analyse the salience of 'sect' in Indian society vis-a-vis caste, region, and religion.

Salience of 'sect'

(A) Caste - refers to an unjust endogamous, occupation-based social grouping, divided into multiple sects.

eg: Within Brahmins, there are sects, like Haliya Brahmin; Tuljya Brahmin etc.

⇒sects in caste lead to unique of customs within a social group based on homogeneity of occupation.

⇒ caste system itself a salient

feature of Indian society, and sects' in caste, based on regional, occupational, linguistic differences in unique to India.

(B) Region - geographical - socio-economic boundary, where people associate a sense of common identity.

⇒ sects within region include diversity of groups, within a region ⇒ eg: North-East India is a tribal region but divided between ethnicities like nonpa, Nishmi in Arunachal Pradesh, Neltis, kutis in manipur, Khari, Jaintia in meghalya etc.

⇒ 'sects' within region add diversity to regional food, dress, language, dialect,

occupation etc.

⇒ How ever, it can also be a source of violence and ethnic clashes.

eg: KUKI - Meitei conflict 2023.

(C) Religion - social group based on allegiance to common god and practices.

eg: Within Christianity ⇒ Syrian Christians, Catholics, protestants etc.

⇒ Adds heterogeneity in some of socio-economic conditions, needs, demands etc.

⇒ can also become a source of ideological conflict.

Therefore, 'sects' is a unique concept of Indian society, where the diversity of India is represented in utmost detail the management of which is a

— Ritika Chitlangia