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What kinds of inter-caste relations obtain among Jains in terms of marriage, commensality, food taking, religious observances, etc. are some of the issues that need investigation. Inter-caste competition in business and profession, hierarchal status and mutual perceptions and stereotypes are other related areas of concern to social scientists.
Sectarian divide among the Jains in India has been a much studied phenomenon in terms of historical causes, philosophical and ritualistic differences but its sociological significance in terms of monastic organization, life style differences, social and economic attitudes, business ethic, etc. is perhaps yet to be understood. In this context it is more interesting to note that Jain Diaspora at this stage of its existence has been displaying less sectarianism than among the Jains in India.
Beside the caste system among the Jains, the Jain family is another institution that needs to be sociologically/anthropologically researched in a wide variety of settings. These settings can be differentiated in terms of rural/urban residence, social/economic class, sectarian divisions, level of urbanisation, etc. The central issue is whether the Jains continue to have the traditional joint family structure or not. What are the structural and functional features of the emergent nuclear family? What is the role of grandparents in this new family? To what extent it is psychologically supportive of the young generation. Problems of alcoholism and drug abuse, and other forms of deviant behaviour also need to be addressed, especially within the context of metropolitan cities.
Marriage as an institution has been the corner stone of the Indian family. With the increased pace of urbanisation and modernisation however the marriage institution is increasingly witnessing a number of changes: late marriages, love marriages, divorce etc. Although Jains constitute a separate religious minority community, in matrimonial matters they are governed by the Hindu Marriage Act. Along with the demand for a minority status, there has also been the demand for having a separate Marriage Act for Jains (See Appendix III). Nevertheless, in most parts of the country the Jains follow more or less the same rituals as among the Hindus. In recent decade there
119 Jains in India and Abroad
