Q: Define the concepts of ‘Descent’ and ‘Alliance’. Differentiate between North Indian and South Indian Kinship systems with examples.

Model Answer:

Descent & Alliance

Descent and alliance are two fundamental concepts in kinship studies.

Descent refers to the principle by which individuals trace their ancestry and inheritance through a particular line, typically patrilineal or matrilineal. It forms the basis of lineage groups and determines rights, obligations, and social identity.
Alliance, conversely, focuses on the relationships established through marriage, emphasizing the importance of affinal ties in creating and maintaining social networks. These concepts are crucial in understanding the structure and dynamics of kinship systems across cultures.

Differences between North Indian and South Indian Kinship Systems:

1. Marriage Rules:
– North India: Characterized by negative marriage rules, prohibiting marriage within certain kin groups like the gotra and often the village.
– South India: Features positive marriage rules, encouraging marriage within specific kin groups, such as cross-cousins (mama magal/magan).

2. Kinship Terminology:
– North India: Reflects a separation between blood relatives and affines, using descriptive terms like “chachera bhai” (father’s younger brother’s son).
– South India: Employs a classificatory system that distinguishes between parallel (pangali) and cross relatives (mama-machchinan), reflecting the preference for cross-cousin marriage.

3. Marriage Alliances:
– North India: Follows hypergamy, where bride-givers are considered inferior to bride-takers. This is easier to maintain as marriages often occur between unrelated families.
– South India: Practices isogamy (as per Louis Dumont), with marriages often occurring between equals due to pre-existing kinship ties. Hypergamy exists but is less common.

4. Women’s Status:
– North India: Women enter a stranger’s family upon marriage, experiencing a significant change in social environment.
– South India: Women often marry within familiar kin groups, resulting in less drastic changes post-marriage. From the woman’s point of view, there is little difference between her family of birth and the family of marriage.

5. Territorial Exogamy:
– North India: Common practice, with marriages often linking different villages, expanding social networks.
– South India: Less prevalent, with marriages frequently occurring within the same locality. There is almost no territorial exogamy.

These differences reflect the underlying principles of descent and alliance in the two systems, shaping social relationships, family structures, and broader community dynamics in distinct ways across North and South India.