Caste in India: The Facts and the System c6.s3.35

c6.s3.35

However different may be the names taken by these groups according to circumstances and locality, it is convenient to have a simple term by which to denote them as a whole. *Gotra* may be retained for this purpose, since the word is sanctioned both by technical language and by common parlance where its meaning is not always obvious. Its influence has made itself felt everywhere but is not always equally strict.