Jajmani System

Jajmani System as a term was introduced into Indian social anthropology and sociology by William Wiser.In his contribution based on his study in a village in Uttar Pradesh he described how different castes interacted with one another in the production and exchange of goods and services.With variations this system existed throughout the country.

According to the Jajmani System there is exchange of goods and services between landowing higher castes  and landless service castes.The service castes are traditionally weavers,leather workers,blacksmiths,goldsmiths,barbers,washermen and so far constituting a group of artisans serving the community.The landed higher castes jajman or the patron and the service castes are jajman.The jajmani system is based on agricultural system of production and distribution of goods and services .It is the link between the landowing high caste groups and occupational castes.

Oscar Lewis mentions that each caste groups within a village is traditionally bound to give certain standardized services to the families of other castes.While the landowning high caste families receive services  from lower castes and in return members of the low castes receive grains.Traditionally the arrangement is approved and interdependence between communities  is based on mutual trust,