Stratified Across Faiths: A Sociological Analysis of Caste Persistence In Religions Outside Hinduism (With Special Reference To Christianity And Islam)

Author(s)	Mr. Yash Sharma, Prof. Lajwant Singh
Country	India
Abstract	Caste continues to influence social relations in India beyond its traditional association with Hinduism, extending into Islam and Christianity despite their egalitarian doctrines. This study examines the forms and persistence of caste stratification among Indian Muslims and Christians. Using a qualitative and exploratory research design, the study is based on secondary sources such as sociological literature, government reports, and academic studies, analysed through thematic and content analysis. The findings reveal the presence of hierarchical structures like the Ashraf–Ajlaf–Arzal divisions among Muslims and Upper-caste–Dalit distinctions among Christians, sustained through endogamy, occupational inheritance, and institutional practices. These caste-based hierarchies shape access to education, economic opportunities, religious authority, and social mobility, resulting in the continued marginalisation of Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians. The study highlights that religious conversion has not eliminated caste but has enabled its reconfiguration within new religious contexts, underscoring caste as a persistent structural reality within India’s socio-religious landscape.
Keywords	Caste, Endogamy, Social Mobility, Occupational Inheritance
Field	Sociology
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 1, January-February 2026
Published On	2026-01-31
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i01.67659

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