DOCSLIB.ORG

Caste in Mind: Craving for Endogamy Reflection from the Bengali Matrimonial Columns of the Higher Castes Dr

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Caste in Mind: Craving for Endogamy Reflection from the Bengali Matrimonial Columns of the Higher Castes Dr Anudhyan: An International Journal of Social Sciences (AIJSS) Caste in Mind: Craving for Endogamy Reflection from the Bengali Matrimonial Columns of the Higher Castes Dr. Aparnita Bhattacharjee ABSTRACT Marriage is socially considered as one of the most important happenings of one’s life. Like other Indian communities, Bengali community has been also traditionally hooked up with preference for endogamy. This is evident from the matrimonial columns published in the dailies across West Bengal in searching suitable brides and grooms. It may seem that with the spread of education Bengali people have become less inclined to attach much value towards caste- oriented mindset while negotiating for marriage. A study of matrimonial columns published in the Ananda Bazar Patrika, the leading daily from Kolkata reveals that people of the two higher castes in Bengal i.e. Brahmanas and Baidyas still give preference to caste identity and crave for prospective endogamous marital negotiations. Key Words: Marriage, Matrimonial Columns, Endogamy, Hypergamy, Hypogamy, Caste (Brahmana & Baidya) Introduction: negotiations for marriages within the same socio- Negotiated or arranged marriage is still substantially economic background of the negotiating families considered one of the options for finding suitable concerned. With the expansion of education and grooms and brides. It is evident from the matrimonial spread of professional horizon for the educated the columns published in the daily newspapers in the boys and girls traditional ways of matchmaking have classified sections and profiles of the online taken a backseat in the concerned process. matrimonial sites that people cutting across different Permanent or semi-permanent shift from the rural sections with castes, communities, high educational native land to urban areas have put constraints in qualifications and professional stands prefer to find having the opportunity of arranging marriage suitable partners through matrimonial through traditional family matchmakers. Again, advertisements. In Bengal, Brahmanas and Baidyas trend of living in nuclear families since the last half are considered higher castes. Traditionally, boys of the last century has created a roadblock to access and girls from higher castes aspire for marriage with to the erstwhile family matchmakers. As a result of partners from same castes. Earlier, matchmakers all these developments, the profession of used to play a great role in finding suitable matches matchmaking has become quite obsolete in Bengal, for suitable brides and grooms and fixing desired particularly in urban and semi-urban areas. Assistant Professor, Department of History, Midnapore College (Autonomous), Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal, India. 158 Dr. Aparnita Bhattacharjee This study zeroes in the matrimonial (Michaels 2004) shows that the word has been used advertisements of the columns entitled ‘brides to mean different things from time to time. The wanted’ (Patri Chai) and ‘grooms wanted’ (Patra discourse on Indian caste has been depicted in Chai) published in the Anandabazar Patrika for different studies from different perspective. Homo consecutive 24 weeks roughly from July to Hierarchicus of Dumont (Dumont 1980) is perhaps December, 2012. A total number of 2226 and 2988 one of the most read and debated works in this respective samples of ‘grooms wanted’ and ‘brides field. Dumont broadly holds that Indians are socially wanted’ as published in the classified columns for most represented by caste. Caste is the element the prospective Brahmana girls and boys are which imparts a uniquely ‘encompassing’ ritual considered in this study. Similarly, a total of 375 status over all the extant social, economic and and 462 respective samples of grooms wanted and power disparities. He argues that Brahminas’ ritual brides wanted as published in the classified status controls the political and economic domain columns for the prospective Baidya girls and boys in India and their relations with other castes. are selected for this study. The selection of the Dumont (Dumont 1966) observes that membership samples is primarily categorized in keeping in mind in a caste depends upon caste status of both the educational and professional qualifications. The parents and thus upon marriage. Sekhar selected samples then considered for the study Bandhyopadhyay (Bandyopadhyay 2004) mainly from different aspects of caste related references concentrates on different caste related phenomena as reflected from the contents of the advertisements of colonial Bengal including discourse on caste and concerned. The total samples of the Baidyas are gender. He observes that dowry replaced the comparatively less than the Brahmanas because practice of bride-price among the upwardly mobile as a community they are lesser in number than the peasant and trading classes since the early Brahmanas. Seal (1971) observes this phenomenon. twentieth century. School of Women’s Studies, Report of the Census (1921) also reflects this trend. Jadavpur University undertook a Project entitled Contemporary Bengali society is perceived to “Re-negotiating Gender Relations in Marriage: be progressive as inter-dinning amongst castes Family, Class and Community in Kolkata in an Era and choice of food going beyond the traditional of Globalisation”. Its area of study covers the taboos have been breaking the age-old restrictive municipalities of Kolkata and Salt Lake. The Report world of life-style. Still caste is most evident of this Project published in 2009 observes that in component of matrimonial advertisements. This the urban context the influence of jati becomes shows that marriage as social practice is yet to get diluted. over caste-dominated perception. 3. Higher Castes of Bengal: Brahmanas and 2. Review of Literature Baidyas The Portuguese is said to have first used the Traditionally, the highest social position is term casta to refer the social order in India. The attributed to the Brahmanas followed by other three particular word is believed to have been originated castes of the four varnas of the Indian society i.e. from the Latin word ‘castus. However, Michaels the Kshatriyas, the Vaishyas and the Shudras. 159 Anudhyan: An International Journal of Social Sciences (AIJSS) Inden (Inden 1976) observes that Brahmanas are professional attributes like the Vaishyas. Both the also attributed the highest social position in Bengal. Puranas referred above are believed to have been However, in Bengal, caste pattern is quite compiled between twelfth to fourteenth centuries. unparalleled. According to a particular reference of Though the Brahmanas of Bengal are allowed to the Brihaddharma Purana, all the non-Brahmin consume fish and meat as per guidelines of castes of Bengal are mixed castes or Sankar Varnas Brihaddharma Purana (which is unlikely to be resultant from unrestrained social mixture among found in any scripture throughout India), they are the four varnas and all are included in the Shudra attributed highest rank in the society like elsewhere Varna, refers Ray ( Ray 1414 - B. S.). Tracing back in the country. Both the Brihaddharma Purana the origin of this peculiar caste pattern in Bengal, and Brahmabaibarta Purana attribute first and attention may be drawn to the extended second positions among the Sat Shudras significance given to the term ‘Shudra’ in the respectively in the social rank to the Karanas (who Puranas where it is denoted that all those members were given same status as the Kayasthas during of the three higher castes actually fall to category the Pala period) and Anwashthas (Baidyas). Again of the Shudras on account of their acceptance of the Brahmabaibarta Purana attributes third the heretical religions and indulgence in Tantric position to the Baidyas who are separated from the rites. Ray (Ray 1414- B.S.) shows that all the Bengali Anwashthas as caste by virtue of its origin. It is non-Brahmanas are categorized in two groups i.e. probable that both the Karanas and Kayasthas, Sat Shudra and Asat Shudra. Davis (Davis 1983) and the Anwashthas and Baidyas were clubbed also observes that Brahmanas accept drinking together by virtue of their professional similarities. water from the Sat Shudras (Jalchal), but Asat Seal (Seal 1971) mentions that later these Baidyas Sudras (Ajalchal) do not have the right to serve began to be treated as second rank holder in social drinking water to the Brahmanas. Ray (Ray 1414- hierarchy of Bengal since they had started to enjoy B.S.) explains that generally Brahmanas are the right to wear sacred thread during the eighteenth debarred from accepting cooked food from the non- century. Risley (Risley 1998), the Census Brahmanas. In the Brahmabaibarta Purana, Commissioner awarded them second position to Anwashtha (classified as born of Brahmana father the Brahmanas and thus above the Kayasthas. and Vishya mother) and Baidyas (classified as born Ghosh (Ghosh 2011) refers that these Baidyas are of Ashwinikumara, the son of Surya and the said to have mastered four Vedas along with the heavenly physician/vishaka, and a Brahmana Ayurveda and thus are known as Baidyabipra. woman) are categorized in two different upavarnas They are also called Trija and they are said to have or subcastes. However, it is said in the had third birth after completing the study. It may be Brihaddharma Purana that the Anwashthas are added that the Brahmanas attain their second birth known as Baidyas by virtue of the profession of after upanayana i.e. ceremony of wearing sacred medical practice and that they are attributed the thread i.e. upabita for the first time. status of Shudra in religious rights despite their In the present study, Baidyas are taken as the 160 Dr. Aparnita Bhattacharjee second highest class of the Bengali society marries a woman of higher castes, it is called as following the above-mentioned practice as started pratiloma marriage, which is considered somewhat by Risley and acquired right of the Baidyas to wear degraded in the social order. Manu, however, is upabita. At times, the Baidyas are socially treated against pratiloma marriage. Brahmanas can accept more or less alike the Brahmanas. However, in the wives from two immediate lower castes i.e.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Howrah, West Bengal
    Howrah, West Bengal 1 Contents Sl. No. Page No. 1. Foreword ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4 2. District overview ……………………………………………………………………………… 5-16 3. Hazard , Vulnerability & Capacity Analysis a) Seasonality of identified hazards ………………………………………………… 18 b) Prevalent hazards ……………………………………………………………………….. 19-20 c) Vulnerability concerns towards flooding ……………………………………. 20-21 d) List of Vulnerable Areas (Village wise) from Flood ……………………… 22-24 e) Map showing Flood prone areas of Howrah District ……………………. 26 f) Inundation Map for the year 2017 ……………………………………………….. 27 4. Institutional Arrangements a) Departments, Div. Commissioner & District Administration ……….. 29-31 b) Important contacts of Sub-division ………………………………………………. 32 c) Contact nos. of Block Dev. Officers ………………………………………………… 33 d) Disaster Management Set up and contact nos. of divers ………………… 34 e) Police Officials- Howrah Commissionerate …………………………………… 35-36 f) Police Officials –Superintendent of Police, Howrah(Rural) ………… 36-37 g) Contact nos. of M.L.As / M.P.s ………………………………………………………. 37 h) Contact nos. of office bearers of Howrah ZillapParishad ……………… 38 i) Contact nos. of State Level Nodal Officers …………………………………….. 38 j) Health & Family welfare ………………………………………………………………. 39-41 k) Agriculture …………………………………………………………………………………… 42 l) Irrigation-Control Room ………………………………………………………………. 43 5. Resource analysis a) Identification of Infrastructures on Highlands …………………………….. 45-46 b) Status report on Govt. aided Flood Shelters & Relief Godown………. 47 c) Map-showing Govt. aided Flood
    [Show full text]
  • Secondary Indian Culture and Heritage
    Culture: An Introduction MODULE - I Understanding Culture Notes 1 CULTURE: AN INTRODUCTION he English word ‘Culture’ is derived from the Latin term ‘cult or cultus’ meaning tilling, or cultivating or refining and worship. In sum it means cultivating and refining Ta thing to such an extent that its end product evokes our admiration and respect. This is practically the same as ‘Sanskriti’ of the Sanskrit language. The term ‘Sanskriti’ has been derived from the root ‘Kri (to do) of Sanskrit language. Three words came from this root ‘Kri; prakriti’ (basic matter or condition), ‘Sanskriti’ (refined matter or condition) and ‘vikriti’ (modified or decayed matter or condition) when ‘prakriti’ or a raw material is refined it becomes ‘Sanskriti’ and when broken or damaged it becomes ‘vikriti’. OBJECTIVES After studying this lesson you will be able to: understand the concept and meaning of culture; establish the relationship between culture and civilization; Establish the link between culture and heritage; discuss the role and impact of culture in human life. 1.1 CONCEPT OF CULTURE Culture is a way of life. The food you eat, the clothes you wear, the language you speak in and the God you worship all are aspects of culture. In very simple terms, we can say that culture is the embodiment of the way in which we think and do things. It is also the things Indian Culture and Heritage Secondary Course 1 MODULE - I Culture: An Introduction Understanding Culture that we have inherited as members of society. All the achievements of human beings as members of social groups can be called culture.
    [Show full text]
  • “Temple of My Heart”: Understanding Religious Space in Montreal's
    “Temple of my Heart”: Understanding Religious Space in Montreal’s Hindu Bangladeshi Community Aditya N. Bhattacharjee School of Religious Studies McGill University Montréal, Canada A thesis submitted to McGill University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts August 2017 © 2017 Aditya Bhattacharjee Bhattacharjee 2 Abstract In this thesis, I offer new insight into the Hindu Bangladeshi community of Montreal, Quebec, and its relationship to community religious space. The thesis centers on the role of the Montreal Sanatan Dharma Temple (MSDT), formally inaugurated in 2014, as a community locus for Montreal’s Hindu Bangladeshis. I contend that owning temple space is deeply tied to the community’s mission to preserve what its leaders term “cultural authenticity” while at the same time allowing this emerging community to emplace itself in innovative ways in Canada. I document how the acquisition of community space in Montreal has emerged as a central strategy to emplace and renew Hindu Bangladeshi culture in Canada. Paradoxically, the creation of a distinct Hindu Bangladeshi temple and the ‘traditional’ rites enacted there promote the integration and belonging of Bangladeshi Hindus in Canada. The relationship of Hindu- Bangladeshi migrants to community religious space offers useful insight on a contemporary vision of Hindu authenticity in a transnational context. Bhattacharjee 3 Résumé Dans cette thèse, je présente un aperçu de la communauté hindoue bangladaise de Montréal, au Québec, et surtout sa relation avec l'espace religieux communautaire. La thèse s'appuie sur le rôle du temple Sanatan Dharma de Montréal (MSDT), inauguré officiellement en 2014, en tant que point focal communautaire pour les Bangladeshis hindous de Montréal.
    [Show full text]
  • Gradation List of WBPS Officers 2019.Xlsx
    PROVISIONAL GRADATION LIST OF WEST BENGAL POLICE SERVICE OFFICERS (Addl. SPs/Dy.Commdts./ Dy. S.Ps/Asstt. CPs & Asstt. Commdts. ) AS ON 01-05-2019 Seniority List of Addl. SPs/Dy. Commdts./Deputy Superintendents of Police/Asstt. Commissioners of Police & Asstt. Commdts.(W.B.P.S. Officers) Whether directly Whether Recruited / Confirmed in Promotee WBPS Appointment in Name of tlhe Officer Date of entry the post of Sl. Present place of Date of Officers (In case of the rank of Dy. with educational to the post of Dy. SP ( If Home District No. posting Birth Direct Recruitee SP vide G.O. qualification WBPS Officers confirmed year of No. date with Exam.(WBCS effect from) Exam.) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Shri Jayanta 138 - P.S. - Cell 1 Mukherjee Dy. SP, Telecom, WB 3.12.72 15.2.99 WBCS - 1997 Dated 14.12.2007 Kolkata B.Sc. 3.2.99. Dy. Commdt. IR. 2nd Bn., Siliguri WB Shri Rakesh Singh 956-P.S.Cell dt. 2 (to work on 5.5.72 8.8.06 WBCS-2004 08.08.2008 Hooghly MSC, Bio Chemistry 29.6.06 deputation to Kalimpong Dist.) Quazi Samsuddin Addl. SP.Rural 488-P.S.Cell dtd. 3 Ahamed 11.03.77 27.03.07 WBCS-2005 27.03.09 Malda Howrah Rural 20.3.07. M.Sc. Addl. DCP. Shri Amlan Ghosh 488-P.S.Cell dtd. 4 Serampore, 11.11.73 30.03.07 WBCS-2005 30.03.09 Jalpaiguri M.A.(Part I) 20.3.07. Chandannagar PC Shri Dipak Sarkar 488-P.S.Cell dtd.
    [Show full text]
  • Caste and Mate Selection in Modern India Online Appendix
    Marry for What? Caste and Mate Selection in Modern India Online Appendix By Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo, Maitreesh Ghatak and Jeanne Lafortune A. Theoretical Appendix A1. Adding unobserved characteristics This section proves that if exploration is not too costly, what individuals choose to be the set of options they explore reflects their true ordering over observables, even in the presence of an unobservable characteristic they may also care about. Formally, we assume that in addition to the two characteristics already in our model, x and y; there is another (payoff-relevant) characteristic z (such as demand for dowry) not observed by the respondent that may be correlated with x. Is it a problem for our empirical analysis that the decision-maker can make inferences about z from their observation of x? The short answer, which this section briefly explains, is no, as long as the cost of exploration (upon which z is revealed) is low enough. Suppose z 2 fH; Lg with H > L (say, the man is attractive or not). Let us modify the payoff of a woman of caste j and type y who is matched with a man of caste i and type (x; z) to uW (i; j; x; y) = A(j; i)f(x; y)z. Let the conditional probability of z upon observing x, is denoted by p(zjx): Given z is binary, p(Hjx)+ p(Ljx) = 1: In that case, the expected payoff of this woman is: A(j; i)f(x; y)p(Hjx)H + A(j; i)f(x; y)p(Ljx)L: Suppose the choice is between two men of caste i whose characteristics are x0 and x00 with x00 > x0.
    [Show full text]
  • Minutes of 32Nd Meeting of the Cultural
    1 F.No. 9-1/2016-S&F Government of India Ministry of Culture **** Puratatav Bhavan, 2nd Floor ‘D’ Block, GPO Complex, INA, New Delhi-110023 Dated: 30.11.2016 MINUTES OF 32nd MEETING OF CULTURAL FUNCTIONS AND PRODUCTION GRANT SCHEME (CFPGS) HELD ON 7TH AND 8TH MAY, 2016 (INDIVIDUALS CAPACITY) and 26TH TO 28TH AUGUST, 2016 AT NCZCC, ALLAHABAD Under CFPGS Scheme Financial Assistance is given to ‘Not-for-Profit’ Organisations, NGOs includ ing Soc iet ies, T rust, Univ ersit ies and Ind iv id ua ls for ho ld ing Conferences, Seminar, Workshops, Festivals, Exhibitions, Production of Dance, Drama-Theatre, Music and undertaking small research projects etc. on any art forms/important cultural matters relating to different aspects of Indian Culture. The quantum of assistance is restricted to 75% of the project cost subject to maximum of Rs. 5 Lakhs per project as recommend by the Expert Committee. In exceptional circumstances Financial Assistance may be given upto Rs. 20 Lakhs with the approval of Hon’ble Minister of Culture. CASE – I: 1. A meeting of CFPGS was held on 7 th and 8th May, 2016 under the Chairmanship of Shri K. K. Mittal, Additional Secretary to consider the individual proposals for financial assistance by the Expert Committee. 2. The Expert Committee meeting was attended by the following:- (i) Shri K.K. Mittal, Additional Secretary, Chairman (ii) Shri M.L. Srivastava, Joint Secretary, Member (iii) Shri G.K. Bansal, Director, NCZCC, Allahabad, Member (iv ) Dr. Om Prakash Bharti, Director, EZCC, Kolkata, Member, (v) Dr. Sajith E.N., Director, SZCC, Thanjavur, Member (v i) Shri Babu Rajan, DS , Sahitya Akademi , Member (v ii) Shri Santanu Bose, Dean, NSD, Member (viii) Shri Rajesh Sharma, Supervisor, LKA, Member (ix ) Shri Pradeep Kumar, Director, MOC, Member- Secretary 3.
    [Show full text]
  • Hindus in South Asia & the Diaspora: a Survey of Human Rights 2007
    Hindus in South Asia and the Diaspora: A Survey of Human Rights 2007 www.HAFsite.org May 19, 2008 “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights” (Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948, Article 1) “Religious persecution may shield itself under the guise of a mistaken and over-zealous piety” (Edmund Burke, February 17, 1788) Endorsements of the Hindu American Foundation's 3rd Annual Report “Hindus in South Asia and the Diaspora: A Survey of Human Rights 2006” I would like to commend the Hindu American Foundation for publishing this critical report, which demonstrates how much work must be done in combating human rights violations against Hindus worldwide. By bringing these abuses into the light of day, the Hindu American Foundation is leading the fight for international policies that promote tolerance and understanding of Hindu beliefs and bring an end to religious persecution. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) Freedom of religion and expression are two of the most fundamental human rights. As the founder and former co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India, I commend the important work that the Hindu American Foundation does to help end the campaign of violence against Hindus in South Asia. The 2006 human rights report of the Hindu American Foundation is a valuable resource that helps to raise global awareness of these abuses while also identifying the key areas that need our attention. Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) Several years ago in testimony to Congress regarding Religious Freedom in Saudi Arabia, I called for adding Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists to oppressed religious groups who are banned from practicing their religious and cultural rights in Saudi Arabia.
    [Show full text]
  • Caste and Mate Selection in Modern India Online Appendix
    Marry for What? Caste and Mate Selection in Modern India Online Appendix By Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo, Maitreesh Ghatak and Jeanne Lafortune A. Theoretical Appendix A1. Adding unobserved characteristics This section proves that if exploration is not too costly, what individuals choose to be the set of options they explore reflects their true ordering over observables, even in the presence of an unobservable characteristic they may also care about. Formally, we assume that in addition to the two characteristics already in our model, x and y; there is another (payoff-relevant) characteristic z (such as demand for dowry) not observed by the respondent that may be correlated with x. Is it a problem for our empirical analysis that the decision-maker can make inferences about z from their observation of x? The short answer, which this section briefly explains, is no, as long as the cost of exploration (upon which z is revealed) is low enough. Suppose z 2 fH; Lg with H > L (say, the man is attractive or not). Let us modify the payoff of a woman of caste j and type y who is matched with a man of caste i and type (x; z) to uW (i; j; x; y) = A(j; i)f(x; y)z. Let the conditional probability of z upon observing x, is denoted by p(zjx): Given z is binary, p(Hjx)+ p(Ljx) = 1: In that case, the expected payoff of this woman is: A(j; i)f(x; y)p(Hjx)H + A(j; i)f(x; y)p(Ljx)L: Suppose the choice is between two men of caste i whose characteristics are x0 and x00 with x00 > x0.
    [Show full text]
  • Editors Seek the Blessings of Mahasaraswathi
    OM GAM GANAPATHAYE NAMAH I MAHASARASWATHYAI NAMAH Editors seek the blessings of MahaSaraswathi Kamala Shankar (Editor-in-Chief) Laxmikant Joshi Chitra Padmanabhan Madhu Ramesh Padma Chari Arjun I Shankar Srikali Varanasi Haranath Gnana Varsha Narasimhan II Thanks to the Authors Adarsh Ravikumar Omsri Bharat Akshay Ravikumar Prerana Gundu Ashwin Mohan Priyanka Saha Anand Kanakam Pranav Raja Arvind Chari Pratap Prasad Aravind Rajagopalan Pavan Kumar Jonnalagadda Ashneel K Reddy Rohit Ramachandran Chandrashekhar Suresh Rohan Jonnalagadda Divya Lambah Samika S Kikkeri Divya Santhanam Shreesha Suresha Dr. Dharwar Achar Srinivasan Venkatachari Girish Kowligi Srinivas Pyda Gokul Kowligi Sahana Kribakaran Gopi Krishna Sruti Bharat Guruganesh Kotta Sumedh Goutam Vedanthi Harsha Koneru Srinath Nandakumar Hamsa Ramesha Sanjana Srinivas HCCC Y&E Balajyothi class S Srinivasan Kapil Gururangan Saurabh Karmarkar Karthik Gururangan Sneha Koneru Komal Sharma Sadhika Malladi Katyayini Satya Srivishnu Goutam Vedanthi Kaushik Amancherla Saransh Gupta Medha Raman Varsha Narasimhan Mahadeva Iyer Vaishnavi Jonnalagadda M L Swamy Vyleen Maheshwari Reddy Mahith Amancherla Varun Mahadevan Nikky Cherukuthota Vaishnavi Kashyap Narasimham Garudadri III Contents Forword VI Preface VIII Chairman’s Message X President’s Message XI Significance of Maha Kumbhabhishekam XII Acharya Bharadwaja 1 Acharya Kapil 3 Adi Shankara 6 Aryabhatta 9 Bhadrachala Ramadas 11 Bhaskaracharya 13 Bheeshma 15 Brahmagupta Bhillamalacarya 17 Chanakya 19 Charaka 21 Dhruva 25 Draupadi 27 Gargi
    [Show full text]
  • Ethnic Identity Formation and Ritual Dynamics: an Analysis of First-Generation Asian Indian Immigrants in the Southern Plains Regions of the United States
    ETHNIC IDENTITY FORMATION AND RITUAL DYNAMICS: AN ANALYSIS OF FIRST-GENERATION ASIAN INDIAN IMMIGRANTS IN THE SOUTHERN PLAINS REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES By BASUDHARA SEN Bachelor of Arts in Sociology University of Calcutta Calcutta, West Bengal 2003 Master of Arts in Sociology University of Calcutta Calcutta, West Bengal 2005 Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate College of the Oklahoma State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY July, 2013 ETHNIC IDENTITY FORMATION AND RITUAL DYNAMICS: AN ANALYSIS OF FIRST-GENERATION ASIAN INDIAN IMMIGRANTS IN THE SOUTHERN PLAINS REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES Dissertation Approved: Dr. J. David Knottnerus Dissertation Adviser Dr. Jean Van Delinder Dr. Tamara L. Mix Dr. Ravi Sheorey ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My mind gets filled with names when I think about the people who have encouraged, guided, mentored, and prayed for the completion of my dissertation. I would like to express my deepest and sincere gratitude to my advisor, Dr. J. David Knottnerus, for his encouragement, patience, editing, and numerous discussions during my Ph.D. Thank you for mentoring, and the support you provided me since the first semester of my graduate study. I am grateful to my committee members, Drs. Jean Van Delinder, Tamara Mix, and Ravi Sheorey for their suggestions and assistance. Thank you, Dr. Van Delinder for introducing me to the wonderful literature on race and ethnicity. Your depth of knowledge always helped to improve my thinking. Thank you, Dr. Mix for training me to develop my teaching potential. You are a great inspiration. Thank you, Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • CONCEIVING the GODDESS an Old Woman Drawing a Picture of Durga-Mahishasuramardini on a Village Wall, Gujrat State, India
    CONCEIVING THE GODDESS An old woman drawing a picture of Durga-Mahishasuramardini on a village wall, Gujrat State, India. Photo courtesy Jyoti Bhatt, Vadodara, India. CONCEIVING THE GODDESS TRANSFORMATION AND APPROPRIATION IN INDIC RELIGIONS Edited by Jayant Bhalchandra Bapat and Ian Mabbett Conceiving the Goddess: Transformation and Appropriation in Indic Religions © Copyright 2017 Copyright of this collection in its entirety belongs to the editors, Jayant Bhalchandra Bapat and Ian Mabbett. Copyright of the individual chapters belongs to the respective authors. All rights reserved. Apart from any uses permitted by Australia’s Copyright Act 1968, no part of this book may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the copyright owners. Inquiries should be directed to the publisher. Monash University Publishing Matheson Library and Information Services Building, 40 Exhibition Walk Monash University Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia www.publishing.monash.edu Monash University Publishing brings to the world publications which advance the best traditions of humane and enlightened thought. Monash University Publishing titles pass through a rigorous process of independent peer review. www.publishing.monash.edu/books/cg-9781925377309.html Design: Les Thomas. Cover image: The Goddess Sonjai at Wai, Maharashtra State, India. Photograph: Jayant Bhalchandra Bapat. ISBN: 9781925377309 (paperback) ISBN: 9781925377316 (PDF) ISBN: 9781925377606 (ePub) The Monash Asia Series Conceiving the Goddess: Transformation and Appropriation in Indic Religions is published as part of the Monash Asia Series. The Monash Asia Series comprises works that make a significant contribution to our understanding of one or more Asian nations or regions. The individual works that make up this multi-disciplinary series are selected on the basis of their contemporary relevance.
    [Show full text]
  • Details of Visas Granted by India
    DETAILS OF VISAS GRANTED BY INDIA I. e-VISA 1 Eligibility e-Visa is granted to a foreigner whose sole objective of visiting India is recreation, sight seeing, casual visit to meet friends or relatives, attending a short term yoga programme, medical treatment including treatment under Indian systems of medicine and business purpose and no other purpose/ activity. This facility shall not be available if the person or either of his / her parents or grand parents (paternal or maternal) was born in, or was permanently resident in Pakistan. e-Visa facility shall not be available to holders of Diplomatic/Official passports, UNLP (UN Passport) holders and international travel document holders e.g. INTERPOL officials. List of countries whose nationals are presently eligible for e-visa is given in Appendix I. 2 Procedure for applying for e-Visa The foreign national may fill in the application online on the website https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html . The applicant can apply 120 days in advance prior to expected date of arrival in India. 3 Sub-categories of e-Visa There are three sub-categories of e-Visa i.e. (a) e-Tourist Visa : For recreation, sightseeing, casual visit to meet friends or relatives, and attending a short term yoga programme, (b)e- Business Visa : For all activities permitted under normal Business Visa and (c) e-Medical Visa : For medical treatment, including treatment under Indian systems of medicine. A foreign national will also be permitted to club these activities provided he/she had clearly indicated the same in the application form along with requisite documents.
    [Show full text]