Andre Beteille's seminal study, 'Caste, Class and Power: Changing Patterns of Stratification in a Tanjore Village' (1965), based on his fieldwork in Sripuram village, Tamil Nadu, offered a nuanced understanding of social stratification in rural India. Beteille moved beyond a singular focus on caste, arguing that social hierarchy in India was a complex interplay of three distinct yet interrelated dimensions: caste, class, and power.

His analysis revealed that while caste (based on ritual status and birth) remained a significant factor, economic class (based on land ownership and occupation) and political power (based on control over local institutions and resources) were increasingly independent and influential. He observed that the traditional congruence between high caste, economic dominance, and political authority was breaking down, especially in the post-independence era. For instance, a lower caste individual might gain economic power through land ownership or education, or political power through democratic processes, thereby challenging the traditional caste hierarchy.

Critically, Beteille's work has been lauded for its empirical rigor and for introducing a multi-dimensional approach to stratification, moving away from a purely Indological or single-factor explanation. However, some criticisms include: (1) Limited scope: Focusing on a single village might not capture the broader regional or national dynamics of change. (2) Emphasis on structure: While acknowledging change, the study primarily focused on structural aspects, potentially underplaying the agency of individuals and groups in challenging or negotiating these structures. (3) Over-differentiation: Some argue that while analytically distinct, caste, class, and power are often deeply intertwined in practice, and their separation might be an oversimplification. Despite these critiques, Beteille's study remains a classic, providing a robust framework for understanding the complexities of social change and stratification in rural India.