Architecture of Privilege

The term caste, derived from the Portuguese casta (lineage, race, or breed), 1 is commonly used in academic discourse to describe local social stratifications known as zaat, qaum , or qabeela . In Sindh, zaat is the most prevalent term, especially along the eastern bank of the Indus, while qaum —invoking a tribal identity with caste-like features—is more common on the western bank. These locally embedded terms reflect both regional variation and the complex entanglement of caste and tribe, particularly in what may be called “tribal-caste groups.” Terms such as zāt, zaat, qaum , caste, tribe, and kinship form the foundational logic of local political life. B.R. Ambedkar’s conception of caste as a “closed class” 2 resonates deeply within Pakistani society, where caste operates as a web of interdependent relations—of domination and exclusion—shaping both privileged and marginalized groups.