21S

pie into two broad groups, namely, the Kaliparaj and the
Ujaliparaj. We have noted that this division is necessary
because there is an economic as well as cultural difference
between these two groups which must have already been
obvious from a perusal of the preceding chapters. So far
as the different sections of the Kaliparaj are concerned,
there is a remarkable similarity of economic and cultural
life. In the case of the Ujaliparaj too, there is a broad
uniformity of life. But a minute observer detects under
this broad uniformity of life among the latter, an appreci-
able difference between the economic life and cultural out-
look of the Brahmins (including the Anavils), Banias,
Parsis and Christians on the one hand, and the rest of the
Ujaliparaj on the other. Such a distinction among the
Ujaliparaj was found necessary, at least while studying the
standard of living, which is so realistic a topic that even
small details cannot be overlooked in its consideration.
We have, therefore, divided the total population of the
village into three groups. The first consists of the Kali-
paraj, the second of the Ujaliparaj with the exception of
Brahmins, Banias, Parsis and Christians and the third of
the rest.
METHODS OF STUDYING THE STANDARD OF LIVING
OF THE PEOPLE
There are two methods of studying the standard of liv-
ing of any group of people. The first consists of collecting
family budgets and the second of constructing a standard
budget for a typical family of the group under study. In
the former we have to collect from all the families consti-
tuting the group the estimates of annual expenditure on
different items like food, clothing, shelter, etc. In the
latter we have to consult freely different intelligent mem-
bers of the group as to what a normal family, say, of one
man, two women and two children usually spends, accord-
ing to their notion, on food, clothing, shelter, etc. The for-
mer is certainly preferable to the latter as it is more realis-
tic. But it is necessary to remember that the former is