THE IMPACT OF CASTE ON THE GROWTH OF MALE SIKHS IN PUNJAB, INDIA

This study is based on a cross-sectional sample of 442 Sikh boys and y oung male adults who were born in and around the town of Phagwara, in the state of Punjab, India, and stayed there all their lives. The samp le comprised Sikh boys at three crucial phases of growth, at 5-6, 10-1 1 and 15-16 years, and young adults around Is years of age. The sample comprised three distinct caste groups, viz. Jats, Ramgarhias and Ravi dassias, belonging respectively to upper, middle and lower socioeconom ic strata of the Sikh community. Differences in stature and body weigh t are particularly marked around early adolescence, and there is some indication of caste differences reappearing in young adults. In the ca se of body mass index, however, the differences seem most marked in la te adolescence. There is no clear directional pattern to the way skinf olds change, but inter-caste differences become more marked with age. There is a suggestion of continuing growth beyond 16 years of age, and indications that the well-oh groups grow more, as compared to the poo r groups, during this period. Comparisons of young adults with older g roups of the same caste indicate an increase in body weight with age, but smaller stature in the older groups. There is thus evidence for a secular stature increase among present-day Punjabi Sikhs.