Well known sociologist of India Dr. M. M. Srinivasa is the sponsor of the word civilization.
He used the term to describe the social and cultural transformation of the Indian caste system.
Most sociologists believed that a hierarchical change in the caste system was not possible.
But In his study, Dr. Srinivas said that even in a relatively closed type of structure like caste system, change is possible.
In this context, he has given the concept of 'civilization'.
In a study of the religion of the Coorg people in the state of Mysore in South India, Dr. Srinivas has tried to explain the existence of the process of civilization at the national level.
Dr. Srinivasa defines culturalization as, "Cultivation is a process in which lower Hindu castes, tribals or other groups imitate the customs, rituals, thinking and lifestyles of the castes or 'Dvij' castes who are considered higher than them."
In doing so, they claim that their traditional social status is higher in the caste order. ”
Thus, when a lower caste group adopts elements of a higher caste culture than itself, it is said that the lower caste group has been ‘cultured’.
Many lower castes of India have cultured themselves by adopting the surnames, names, customs, religious practices, food, dress, language, occupation, art, marriage and family life traditions of the upper castes.
Dr. Srinivasa has shown in his study that the lower castes imitate the 'Brahmin' caste and abandon some of their customs and lifestyles.
Thus, the process of culturalization gives castes a vertical social dynamism in the social caliber.
The concept of 'civilization' was introduced by Dr. Srinivasa studied at the University of California, USA. Rabindranath Tagore during a lecture series in 1963.
He initially introduced the concept using the term 'Brahmanization'.
Because, based on the study of South India, they believed that lower castes or tribal groups only imitate Brahmins.
But at the same time, sociologist David Pocock and other anthropologists researching in India, Dr. Srinivasa pointed out that in different regions of India, besides Brahmins, Kshatriyas or other 'Dvij' castes are also imitated.
Hence Dr. Srinivasa used the word 'Sanskritization' instead of 'Brahmanization'.