Stratification and Social Mobility of Lower Caste Muslims in Kashmir Valley: A Study

ABSTRACT

The investigation of social stratification is of focal worry to sociologists since present-day societies show such a great range of imbalances. These include imbalances among rich and poor, between social classes, and among people. Inequalities in a wide range in almost every area of social life, such as in job security, leisure opportunities, health, housing, income, and the power to influence events in society. Of late, some thought has been paid to the examination of social stratification and strategies for life prevailing among Muslims in Kashmir. There are triple divisions of Kashmiri society, Syeds, “Pirs”, and “Ulemas” at the top, "Dom" and “Wattals” at the base, and the rest in the middle Class. The focus of the study will provide a comprehensive picture of the patterns of social stratification among Kashmiri Muslims and it will also try to throw light on the underestimation of the lower castes. This study will try to identify Socio-economic conditions including housing pattern, occupations, societal relationships, Marriage, and hygienic pattern of lower castes of Kashmir valley.

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