Concept and Features of Yajmani System:-
Concept and Features of Yajmani System:-
What is Yajmani System. What were the features of Yajmani Syastem?
Write a short note on Indian Yajmani System.
.png)
Yajmani Syastem.
Introduction:-
One of the important features of the caste-based social system in India was the relationship of mutual dependence despite the high and low discrimination between different castes. The ancient system by which this relationship between different castes was well regulated is called Yajmani System.
William H. Wiser, the author of ‘Indian Yajmani System’, believes that this system was able to maintain the self-sufficiency of Indian village society. According to him, this system is based on some responsibilities and duties on the basis of cooperative exchange.
Professor Davis G. Mandelbaum has claimed that Yajmani system is a continuous system.
Henry was the first to use the term ‘Yajmani’ to explain these special types of contractual relationships between different castes. He first showed in his research on the villages of Mysore that the overall economic pattern of the village is controlled by the economic exchange of different castes. The main basis of the Yajmani system was Yajman and Kamin. This system is based on three main principles: -
a. Fulfillment of the duties and responsibilities of different castes through the Yajmani system.
b. Fulfillment of the needs of another group through the fulfillment of these responsibilities.
c. Economic security of each group through the fulfillment of mutual needs and responsibilities.
This exchange relationship based on the Yajmani system forced different castes to be dependent on each other in terms of social relations through the fulfillment of economic responsibilities and services. The fulfillment of these caste-based responsibilities was confined to specific families. The patronizing families were called Yajman families and the service-giving families were called Kamin families. Just as the Yajman families could not accept the services of any other family if they wished, on the other hand, some Kamin families were obliged to provide services to the Yajman families determined by their lineage. For example, a carpenter was responsible for repairing the machinery used in agricultural work, a barber was responsible for cutting hair, and a washerman was responsible for cleaning his clothes. But this service of the Kamin families was not open to all the families in the village. They were only obliged to provide labor to their Yajman families.
Features / Characteristics of the Yajman system:-
Some characteristics of the Yajman system can be observed. They are as follows: -
i) Family property:- Yajman rights were considered family property. But the rights were inherited and passed from father to son and like land ownership, Yajman rights were also distributed among more than one son.
ii) Cash was not used:- The main feature of the Yajmani system is that cash was never used in the mutual exchange of Yajmani relations. The relationship between the patron family and the tenant family was never a contractual relationship like the worker-owner relationship.
iii) Regional diversity:- Another feature of the Yajmani system is that regional diversity can be observed in the mutual exchange between the yajman and kamin. In particular regions of different castes, special types of payment were made instead of special works.
iv) Interdependence of religious and social ceremonies:- Another feature of the Yajmani system is the Ritual Interdependence, i.e. the mutual dependence of different castes between religious ceremonies and social ceremonies. Although there were differences between different castes, just as the upper caste could participate in various functions in social rituals, the very low caste and even the untouchables could also participate, and the presence of the upper caste could also be observed in the lower caste ceremonies.
v) Speciality of labour: - Although interdependence can be observed in religious and social ceremonies among different castes, Mandal Brown in his book ‘Society in India’ has mentioned the speciality of labour in such religious and social ceremonies in the case of some castes. For example, the castes located at the lower level of the Rajaka caste hierarchy of South Kerala are not obliged to perform labour for the family. Here it has been seen that different sub-groups have emerged within the Rajaka caste. They perform labour in different families according to the local hierarchy.
vi) Loyalty to the host families: - Various variations in the loyalty of the Kamin families to the host families can be observed. In this context, the blacksmiths of Senapur village of Jaunpur district in Uttar Pradesh have to be mentioned. The work of these blacksmiths is to make various iron items. Apart from this, they sometimes made wooden items. Since there were no carpenters in this village, only the upper caste Thakur community took up the profession of carpenter in addition to their traditional profession.
vii) Sense of security in economic exchange: - According to Whistler, the main feature of the Yajmani system is the sense of security in economic exchange. Since the maintenance arrangements of the Kamin families are pre-determined, on the one hand, there is a provision to meet the needs of the Yajmani families, on the other hand, the livelihood security and balance of the Kamin families is also maintained.
0 comments