This paper try to analyse the theory of Pecuniarisation in relation to the caste occupational mobility in the Indian context. It tries to identify the relevance of Pecuniarisation among the Indian Anthropological Theories. The economic structure of castes has been well studied in India but the current paradigm shows that it has minimised the occupational and service relationships of the caste when they departed from the core of the beliefs of the caste occupations. It has been identified that the shift of the concept from the “dignity of occupation” to the “economic advantage”. Mobility within the caste occupations, and downward and upward occupational mobility on a hierarchical nature is taking place greatly.
At present, economic status of an individual is the main basis for the power and prestige in the village than the prestige attached to occupations. This shift of emphasis from the old concept of ‘occupations’ to a new concept provides a pattern and this process is referred to as Pecuniarisation. Downward and upward occupational mobility pertaining to a particular occupation is the fundamental character of this phenomenon and this process is taking place all over Kerala.
The theory of Pecuniarisation explains the two-way process of occupational mobility where the adoption of the traditional occupation of a caste by any other caste either as an individual or as a group merely with an “economic motive” is defined as Pecuniarisation. Occupational diversification and occupational mobility are creating significant changes in the villages. Castes, irrespective of their hierarchical positions, are adopting other occupations, which are capable of providing them better means of livelihood, more earnings, and higher socio-economic status. The anthropological theory of Pecuniarisation is compared with the other Indian Anthropological Theories to locate its anthropological significance in the Indian village community studies and the anthropological study of castes in India.
