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Jaina Community-A Social Survey
decision. But it is a fact that sectarian distinctions are very deep
rooted and there is no possibility of abolishing them as there is - complete absence of religious toleration. Hence it is thought that there is no use in opening the institutions to all Jainas.
16. CHOICE OF OCCUPATION The lack of choice of occupations is one of the important features of Hindu caste system. Therein the occupations are considered as hereditary and the members are not allowed to follow an occupation which is not their own. With a view to know whether the Jaina castes also are occupational in character the question number 17 was asked and from the replies it can be observed that in general in the past members of a Jaina caste were not compelled to follow a particular occupation or profession. As the freedom of choice of occupations was given to the members, the Jaina castes could not be considered as occupational in character. Thus the Visā Śrimāli Jainas in the past were businessmen dealing in jewellery, precious stones, perfumery, cloth and other goods. Though some of them still continue their old trades a good many of them have gone to new lines like speculation in cotton, bullion and shares and even in American futures. Similarly, agriculture and business were the occupations of Visā Osavālas but now they have ceased to follow agriculture and seem to concentrate on business of precious stones, especially diamonds. Bāvanagāma Bhāvasāras appear to have gradually discontinued their former profession of dyeing clothes and now they are found in business as well as in service. In many Jaina castes the profession of banking was practised on a large scale but now they hardly follow that profession. But still there are a few castes which are in a large measure continuing their former main occupations even to the present day. Agriculture was and is the main occupation of Chaturtha, Vaisya and Bogāra castes. Along with agriculture the Bogāras are practising their former occupations of selling bangles and manufacturing and selling copper and bronze vessels. Thus at present there are no fixed occupations of particular castes and the Jainas, irrespective of the castes to which they belong, follow various types of occupations.
17. CASTE AND EDUCATION : The Jainas being mainly a commercial community it is natural that the standard of literacy, especially among males, is compara
