Explain the concept of “dominant caste”.

Dominant caste is the one which has a high ritual status, whose members are numerically the strongest in the village/region; economically and politically most powerful in the area.

A caste is considered dominant when it has a high ritual status, has numerical preponderance and is economically and politically strong in the village. There are regional variations in the caste groups who are dominant. Local power generally comes from land as it is the main source of wealth. Numerical strength further safeguards the power. In the new democratic system where every vote is important, unity of caste makes it a political force.

 In regions where caste and power hierarchy overlap, there is a definite concentration of power, wealth and land invested with high-ranking caste groups. Ritual notions of purity and pollution further reinforce the high and low status of caste groups.

In regions where caste and power structures do not correlate, there is constant dispute over their position in the hierarchy. This may result in factions within caste groups. Diffused power structure emerges with no single dominant caste.

In districts of Punjab, Haryana and parts of U.P., middle-rung castes e.g. Jat, Ahir, Kurmi, etc. wield enormous power and are dominant in the region.  

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