Q. Colonial administrators had the following view(s) of caste:
(a) Caste was linked with community
(b) Caste was based on occupational division
(c) Caste was responsible for an absence of patriotism
(d) All of above.
Ans: (d) All of above.
Explanation: The correct answer is (d) All of the above.
Colonial administrators held multiple views regarding caste in India. These views included:
(a) Caste was linked with community: Colonial administrators recognized that caste played a significant role in defining social and communal identities in Indian society. Caste was seen as a fundamental social unit, often associated with specific communities or groups.
(b) Caste was based on occupational division: Colonial administrators observed that caste often determined a person’s occupation or profession. They perceived caste as a system of occupational division, where individuals were expected to follow the traditional occupations associated with their caste.
(c) Caste was responsible for an absence of patriotism: Some colonial administrators held the belief that caste divisions hindered the development of a unified sense of national identity and loyalty. They argued that the strong attachment to one’s caste and community prevented the emergence of a broader sense of patriotism and national unity.
Therefore, the correct answer is (d) All of the above, as colonial administrators held these different views regarding caste in India.
