The Cambridge History of India, Vol. I: Ancient India v1.c15.221

v1.c15.221

The chief distinguishing feature of Indian society at the present day is the caste-system, the origin and growth of which may be traced from an early period. It now divides the great majority of the inhabitants of Northern and Southern India into hundreds of self-contained social groups, i.e. castes and sub-castes. A man is obliged to marry outside his family, but within the caste, and usually within the sub-caste, to which his family belongs. A family consists of persons 'reputed to be descended from a common ancestor, and between whom marriage is prohibited.' It is the exogamous social unit. A collection of such units constitutes a sub-caste or caste.