A sociological study was focussed on two villages, one a large settlement of some 5142 people and the other, a small village of only 759 people. Despite their difference in size, both villages exhibit a roughly similar caste and religious structure. Each settlement contains both Hindu and Muslim families which are internally divided into caste or caste-like groupings; and each possesses a dominant caste that tends to control a substantial part of the economic and political resources of the village.

The village population is divided into three socio-economic groupings: (1) A group of agriculturists who are of high status and high income that make up the dominant caste, together with certain individuals from other caste who have achieved a better economic status than their fellows; (2) A middle group of less wealthy agriculturists, artisans, and members of the occupational castes; and (3) A group of individuals of low status and income made up of lowest order caste and poor agricultural labourers.

In both villages there is a small but powerful segment that constitutes elite. This comprises people mostly of high social status and income who are better educated, have urban contacts and play an active part in village and inter-village politics.