Andre Beteille Quotes

6 Sourced Quotes

In the past, Indian society was unique in the extremes of which it carried the principle and practice of inequality; today Indian intellectuals appear unique in their zeal for promoting the adoption of equality in every sphere of society.

Andre Beteille

The vitality of a religion depends on a continuous critique of it by its own reflective members.

Andre Beteille

A civilisation that cannot accommodate a variety of traditions, seeking to maintain a jealous hold on only one single tradition, can hardly be called a civilisation.

Andre Beteille

The practice of untouchability is indeed reprehensible and must be condemned by one and all; but that does not mean that we should now begin to regard it as a form of racial discrimination. The Scheduled Castes of India taken together are no more a race than are the Brahmins taken together. Every social group cannot be regarded as a race simply because we want to protect it against prejudice and discrimination.

Andre Beteille

The Indian intelligentsia has somewhat mixed attitudes towards the Indian village. While educated Indians are inclined to think or at least speak well of the village, they do not show much inclination for the company of villagers.

Andre Beteille

Treating caste as a form of race is politically mischievous; what is worse, it is scientifically nonsensical.

Andre Beteille

Andre Beteille

Andre Beteille

Born: September 30, 1934

Died: February 3, 2026 (aged 91)

Bio: Andre Beteille was one of India's leading sociologists and writers. He was particularly well known for his studies of the caste system in South India.

Known for:

Caste, class, and power (1965)
Sociology: Essays on Approach and Method (2002)
Chronicles of our time (2000)

Andre Beteille on Wikipedia

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