DOCSLIB.ORG

Castes and Tribes of Southern India

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Castes and Tribes of Southern India CASTES AND TRIBES OF SOUTHERN INDIA EDGAR THURSTON, C.I.E., Superintendent, Madras Government Museum; Correspondant E’tranger, Société d'Anthropologie de Paris ; Socio Corrispondante, Societa Romana di Anthropologia. ASSISTED BY K. RANGACHARI, M.A, of the Madras Government Museum. VOLUME I—A and B First published in 1909 With commentary by VED from VICTORIA INSTITUTIONS VICTORIA INSTITUTIONS Aaradhana, DEVERKOVIL 673508 India www.victoriainstitutions.com admn@ victoriainstitutions.com Telegram: https://t.me/VICTORIA_INSTITUTIONS EDGAR THURSTON, C.I.E. Please note: ‘Castes and Tribes of Southern India' is in the public domain. However, the Commentary written by VED from VICTORIA INSTITUTIONS is not. All rights reserved. This print version edition published in January 2020. PRINT You can print this book, for your own use or for selling to others. The cover-file of this book can be opened by clicking on the Pin image here. You can print this book using your private Printer, such as Epson &c., or you can send this file to some Online or Offline Digital book printing service. For each book you print, you need to send Rs. 30, or its equivalent in your native-land currency, to VICTORIA INSTITUTIONS, the creator/publisher of this digital file. This shall be a legal and moral obligation on you. If you are a book-publishing company, you can print this book for selling. You also are legally obliged to pay the same amount mentioned above for each book your print and sell. The various means available for sending the amount is given below on this page. When sending the money, you can mention: Print - and this book’s name in an abbreviated form. There is no need for any further communication with us with regard to any specific authorisation from us for printing this book. Please note that all books published by VICTORIA INSTITUTIONS in the digital format can contain various errors including spelling errors, wrong words, blurry text/images &c. and at times, even erroneous information. This book is offered to you on an As-is basis. Please note that for using this book as a digital book, it is better to download the digital book version from VICTORIA INSTITUTIONS’ Telegram pages. Or from any website this book is available for download. CASTES AND TRIBES OF SOUTHERN INDIA 1. Commentary 5 Edgar Thurston’s book 7 A few profound mistakes of an astronomical level 9 India and Indians 9 Continental Europeans versus the English/British 9 Malayalam versus Malabari 10 Hindu and Hinduism 12 Shamanistic spirituality 13 What Thurston missed 15 Hammering force of feudal language word-codes 16 The degradation set upon native-English nations 17 2. Annotating the textual matter 21 3. Castes and Tribes of Southern India 69 4. Books by VED from VICTORIA INSTITUTIONS 403 3 EDGAR THURSTON, C.I.E. This is Volume One of Edgar Thurston’s CASTES AND TRIBES OF SOUTHERN INDIA. In this book, Thurston has attempted to list out the various castes and tribes of the southern parts of the South Asian Subcontinent. The various attributes of the various castes and tribes, including their family systems, customs, traditional vocation, spiritual beliefs, rituals, death ceremonies, position in the social hierarchy and such other things are delineated in this book. In the case of some of the castes, very detailed descriptions can be found. The Commentary given by VED from VICTORIA INSTITUTIONS aims to position this book’s actual merits and also to point out certain deficiencies in the general outlook. The book is great. It was a pioneering attempt at understanding ethnographic differences inside the South Asian subcontinent. However, the most powerful factor that actually influences ethnographic differences in closely connected populations has not been mentioned or detected. This most powerful factor is the verbal codes in the native feudal languages, and the exact position of a caste or tribe or individual inside these languages. As of now, a few newly emerged buffoons sitting inside the cosy ambiences of native-English nations have tried to decry the great endeavour of Edgar Thurston. They do not know much and do not understand anything. Even the term ‘feudal language’ would simply pass through their brain, without connecting to anything inside it. Some other native jokers have added another individual’s name also as the author to this book. That is from the platform of a lowly jingoist aspiration of a population which has nothing on its own to showcase. Another clown has had the daring to mention that Thurston’s writings are bereft of merit because he was a ‘British colonial official’. CASTES AND TRIBES OF SOUTHERN INDIA Commentary VED from VICTORIA INSTITUTIONS It took a lot of efforts on the part of the erstwhile English administration to improve the quality of the lower classes in the subcontinent. Picture taken from http://pazhayathu.blogspot.in/ I think this is my fifth commentary written about certain books of formidable reputation, in the world of history and sociology studies. The first one was on Travancore State Manual written by V. Nagam Aiya. The second one was Native Life in Travancore by REV. Samuel Matter. The third one was on Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler. The fourth one was on OMENS AND SUPERSTITIONS OF SOUTHERN INDIA by Edgar Thurston. However, this last one did go beyond the parameters of a commentary and did sort of become an independent book of mine, titled: Software codes of mantra, tantra, witchcraft, black magic, evil eye, evil tongue &c. The way I work on these old time books is to take the text and images from the scanned digital copies of these books, which are available online (mainly archive.org), to create a very readable digital book version in pdf. This effort brings up a lot of seemingly unsolvable problems. One is that the text does not get copied correct. Or that text recognition does not work properly. So that there are umpteen instances of erroneous words appearing in the copied text. 5 EDGAR THURSTON, C.I.E. Next is that there would be missing letters or words. This makes text correcting and proofreading a huge work. Then there is the issue of alphabetic ligatures. These are combined letters such as œ (c + e), æ (a +e), Æ etc. These old-time books do use them profusely. However, when copying the texts, these words do split. I do not remember as to how I dealt with this issue in my earlier attempts at creating a more readable version of the former four books. However, in this present book, I have made some effort to retain the original typographic ligatures. However, the most formidable issue was that when the digital texts from pdf files are copied, the text more or less mirror the layout of the pdf page. That is, the page becomes a line-by-line arrangement of each line in the page, in a list-like manner. So that, practically I had to correct each line and sentence individually. In a book with around more than 100 thousand words, this becomes a huge work. This was one of the most terrible issues that I had to face in my earlier attempts at this work. However, over the years, I have learnt a lot of tricks to accomplish various things in the digital world. I experimented with a lot of ideas and came upon a trick that would help me circumvent the problem. Incidentally, I have written a book on my various information on computer usages, data processing and internet, titled: VEILED routes to resources in Computers & on the Internet, unVEILED!. I find that this digital book has received a good rating on Google books. This digital book (which can be opened in computers, but not in mobile devices) can be bought from this webpage: books.deverkovil.com. My work on Travancore State Manual was the most tedious and time- consuming one. It was my first attempt at this kind of work. The problem with that book was that the original text I got from online sources was quite corrupted and many words simply invisible. I had to work on more than one source to find the correct word which was missing. Moreover, there were a number of botanical technical words, which I had to painstakingly type out. In fact, in the case of that book, I did a lot of typing work. When I work towards creating an easily readable digital version of these books, the frill benefit that derives upon me is that I get to invariably read the books, and almost without much of an extra effort. CASTES AND TRIBES OF SOUTHERN INDIA When pondering about what I get in return for this unsolicited-by- anyone works, I think that there is a certain kind of feeling of accomplishment that I derive when the digital book creation is done. Apart from that I come across a lot of information which thitherto I had not known, or seen mentioned in any academic textbooks or other insipid sources of information. As to financial benefits, though they are deeply expressive of appreciation, the truth is that I do not get much pecuniary benefits. That remains a truth. Since, I am myself an author, who has done quite pioneering and original research and ponderings on such exceptional themes as Feudal languages, Codes in languages, Software codes of languages, Life and reality, Codes of reality, Software codes of supernatural events, Software codes of human life, body and mind etc., unusual bits of information do help me much. Edgar Thurston’s book The writings of Edgar Thurston are not a totally unknown commodity for me.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 11. Brahmotsavam
    Our Sincere thanks to: 1. 'kaimkarya ratnam' Anbil Sri. Ramaswamy Swami, Editor of SrIRangaSrI e-magazine for his special report on the Brahmotsava Celebrations at Pomona, New York. 2. Sri. Murali Desikachari for compiling the source document 3. Sri.Lakshminarasimhan Sridhar, Sri.Malolan Cadambi, Sri. Murali BhaTTar of www.srirangapankajam.com. sadagopan.org sadagopan.org sadagopan.org www.ranganatha.org and Nedumtheru Sri.Mukund Srinivasan for contribution of images. 4. Smt. Jayashree Muralidharan for assembling the e-book. C O N T E N T S Introduction 1 Brahmotsava Ceremonies 5 Pre-Brahmotsavam 7 Ghanta Sevai 22 Bheri Taadanam 26 sadagopan.org sadagopan.org sadagopan.org Slokams used in Bheri Taadanam 31 Brahmotsavam at Pomona New York 73 Day 1 75 Day 2 80 Day 3 82 Final Day 84 In Conclusion 95 A special report by Sri. Anbil Ramaswamy 97 Just returned from Vaikuntham 99 sadagopan.org sadagopan.org sadagopan.org SrI ranganAtha with ubhaya nAcchiyArs during Brahmotsavam Pomona Temple, New York ïI> b INTRODUCTION Dear Sri RanganAyaki SamEtha Sri Ranganatha BhakthAs : The First BrahmOthsavam celebrations at Sri Ranganatha Temple have been sadagopan.org sadagopan.org sadagopan.org successfully concluded with the anugraham of Lord Ranganatha and the AchAaryAs. The details of each day's program is available at: http://www.Ranganatha.org A huge band of volunteers provided support for the various Kaimkaryams and including the Vaidhika events of the individual days from DhvajArOhaNam to DhvajAvarOhaNam. The daily alankArams, PuRappAdus, Live Naadhaswara Kaccheris, cultural events, Anna dhAnams, BhEri Taadanams et al during this BrahmOthsavam were a delight to enjoy.
    [Show full text]
  • *‡Table 5. Ethnic and National Groups
    T5 Table[5.[Ethnic[and[National[Groups T5 T5 TableT5[5. [DeweyEthnici[Decimaand[NationalliClassification[Groups T5 *‡Table 5. Ethnic and National Groups The following numbers are never used alone, but may be used as required (either directly when so noted or through the interposition of notation 089 from Table 1) with any number from the schedules, e.g., civil and political rights (323.11) of Navajo Indians (—9726 in this table): 323.119726; ceramic arts (738) of Jews (—924 in this table): 738.089924. They may also be used when so noted with numbers from other tables, e.g., notation 174 from Table 2 In this table racial groups are mentioned in connection with a few broad ethnic groupings, e.g., a note to class Blacks of African origin at —96 Africans and people of African descent. Concepts of race vary. A work that emphasizes race should be classed with the ethnic group that most closely matches the concept of race described in the work Except where instructed otherwise, and unless it is redundant, add 0 to the number from this table and to the result add notation 1 or 3–9 from Table 2 for area in which a group is or was located, e.g., Germans in Brazil —31081, but Germans in Germany —31; Jews in Germany or Jews from Germany —924043. If notation from Table 2 is not added, use 00 for standard subdivisions; see below for complete instructions on using standard subdivisions Notation from Table 2 may be added if the number in Table 5 is limited to speakers of only one language even if the group discussed does not approximate the whole of the
    [Show full text]
  • 25 Handbook of Bibliography on Diaspora and Transnationalism.Pdf
    BIBLIOGRAPH Y A Hand-book on Diaspora and Transnationalism FIRST EDITION April 2013 Compiled By Monika Bisht Rakesh Ranjan Sadananda Sahoo Draft Copy for Reader’s Comments Global Research Forum on Diaspora and Transnationalism www.grfdt.org Bibleography Preface Large scale international mobility of the people since colonial times has been one of the most important historical phenomenon in the human history. This has impacted upon the social, cultural, political and economic landscape of the entire globe. Though academic interest goes back little early, the phenomenon got the world wide attention as late as 1990s. We have witnessed more proactive engagement of various organizations at national and international level such as UN bodies. There was also growing research interest in the areas. Large number of institutions got engaged in research on diaspora-international migration-refugee-transnationalism. Wide range of research and publications in these areas gave a new thrust to the entire issue and hence advancing further research. The recent emphasis on diaspora’s development role further accentuated the attention of policy makers towards diaspora. The most underemphasized perhaps, the role of diaspora and transnational actors in the overall development process through capacity building, resource mobilization, knowledge sharing etc. are growing areas of development debate in national as well as international forums. There have been policy initiatives at both national and international level to engage diaspora more meaningfully since last one decade. There is a need for more wholistic understanding of the enrite phenomena to facilitate researchers and stakeholders engaged in the various issues related to diaspora and transnationalism. Similarly, we find the areas such as social, political and cultural vis a vis diaspora also attracting more interest in recent times as forces of globalization intensified in multi direction.
    [Show full text]
  • Challenging the Devadasi System from a Framework Of
    CHALLENGING THE DEVADASI SYSTEM FROM A FRAMEWORK OF INTERSECTIONALITY A Dissertation by MRUDULA ANNE Submitted to the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Chair of Committee, Jamie Callahan Committee Members, Lisa Baumgartner Dongxiao Liu Jia Wang Head of Department, Fredrick Nafukho December 2014 Major Subject: Educational Human Resource Development Copyright 2014 Mrudula Anne ABSTRACT The practice of marrying girls to deities or priests existed historically in many cultures across South Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. In India alone, this system is known by different names like Devadasi, Mathamma, Jogini, Basavis. Through this study, I represent the unheard voices of Devadasi women from South India and use HRD concepts and principles to synthesize the findings. The field of HRD is not confined to the boundaries of an organization and can play a critical role in community development. This is the first step towards empowering the members of this system and it is hoped that the findings from this study will help inform the organizational practices of NGO’s working with this populace. This study includes a unique set of participants whose experiences have not been captured and examined using intersectionality and Bourdieu, thus contributing to literature. Data was collected through interviews with Devadasi women from South India, specifically Nizamabad, Mahabubnagar, and Tirupati. Five themes emerged from the data – dichotomy, identity, status, fear and locus of control. The theme ‘status’ refers to the participant’s intersecting identities as women and as people from lower castes.
    [Show full text]
  • The Lifecycle of Sri Lanka Malay
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by HKU Scholars Hub Language Documentation & Conservation Special Publication No. 7 (January 2014) Language Endangerment and Preservation in South Asia, ed. by Hugo C. Cardoso, pp. 100-118 http://nflrc.hawaii.edu/ldc/sp07 5 http://hdl.handle.net/10125/24605 The lifecycle of Sri Lanka Malay Umberto Ansaldo & Lisa Lim The University of Hong Kong The aim of this paper is to document the forces that led first to the decay and then the revival of the ancestral language of the Malay diaspora of Sri Lanka. We first sketch the background of the origins of the language in terms of intense contact and multilingual transfer; then analyze the forces that led to a significant language shift and consequent loss, as well as the factors responsible for the recent survival of the language. In doing so we focus in particular on the ideologies of language upheld within the community, as well as on the role of external agents in the lifecycle of the community. 1. THE FORMATIVE PERIOD. The community of Malays in Sri Lanka1 is the result of the central practices of Western colonialism, namely the displacement of subjects from one colonized region to another. Through various waves of deportation communities of people from Indonesia (the 1 Fieldwork undertaken in February and December 2003 and January 2004 in Colombo, Hambantota and Kirinda was partially supported by a National University of Singapore Academic Research Grant (R-103-000-020-112) for the project Contact languages of Southeast Asia: The role of Malay (Principal investigator: Umberto Ansaldo).
    [Show full text]
  • The Tulasi Devi Handbook
    8/3/2019 The Tulasi Devi Handbook The Tulasi Devi Handbook Guidelines and Instructions on the Importance, Care and Worship of the Tulasi Tree Compiled from various sources by Stephen Knapp (Sri Nandanandana dasa) Contents 1. Quotes From Srila Prabhupada 2. Prayers and Mantras for Tulasi 3. How to Offer Tulasi Devi Worship (Puja) 4. Tulasi Devi: The Importance of the Sacred Tree 5. The Marriage of Tulasi and the Significance of Shalagrama-shilas 6. How to Care for Tulasi 7. Caring for Tulasi Devi From Seedlings 8. Picture Pages Preface This consists mostly of the old Iskcon Tulasi Handbook (possibly going back to the early 1970s) that we used to have at the temples long ago. It was the first compilation of instructions that most temples had about Tulasi. I had collected a lot of these kinds of books and information, so I pulled my copy out, typed it up, along with doing some editing and rearrangement for ease of use, then added the additional research on who is Tulasi and some of her main pastimes from various Vedic texts. That is is how this edition came together. I’m not sure who the author or authors were of the original handbook, but many devotees are most grateful for what has been done. It is a very descriptive and instructive booklet on the ways to take care of Tulasi, and this will help preserve some of the early knowledge and information on growing Tulasi that we had from years ago. Additional information and experience may be available now, but there is nothing like reviewing the original ways we used to do things.
    [Show full text]
  • Indian Leaders on Tibet.Pmd
    C. Rajagopalachari, the last Governor-General of India, on Tibet Brutal Colonialism in Tibet IT is difficult to find suitable words to express the sympathy that I feel in respect of this movement - of what I may call in a different sense - a movement for the liberation of Tibet. The issue of Tibet is not a question of legalistic exploration as to the sovereignty of Tibet but a question of human rights which must be decided on the plane of justice and humanity and not on the basis of any legal puzzle. Sovereignty and Suzerainty are terms which have varied from time to time in respect of their content. Whatever legal jargon might have been used from time to time, in respect of the relation between Tibet and China, in particular, and the outer world, in general, no one can doubt the fact that Tibetan people have a right to rule themselves. His Holiness the Dalai Lama in his message had made things quite clear and pointed out how even on a legalistic plane there can be no doubt about the rights of the Tibetan people to rule themselves irrespective of any belonging to other nationalities. This invasion of Tibet which terminated in His Holiness taking refuge in Indian territory is brutal colonialism. There can, therefore, be no second thoughts in the matter. All Indian people wants Tibet to be released from the grip of China. 1 Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of Indian Republic, on Tibet (Excerpts from his last public speech, Gandhi Maidan, Patna, 24 October, 1962.) FREEDOM is the most sacred boon.
    [Show full text]
  • RELIGIOUS RITES 1 Shree Swaminarayano Vijayteteram Shree Nanarayandev Sahitya Series No - 49 in the Memory of New Temple of Lord Shri Narnarayan Dev RELIGIOUS RITES
    RELIGIOUS RITES 1 Shree Swaminarayano vijayteteram Shree Nanarayandev Sahitya Series No - 49 In the memory of new temple of Lord Shri Narnarayan Dev RELIGIOUS RITES -:Author :- Dr. Swami Satya prasad dasji Vedantacharya By inspiration of Param Pujya Dharma Dhurandhar 1008 Acharya Sri Kaushalendraprasadji Maharaj Published by Mahanat Sadguru Purani Swani Sri Dharmnandan dasji Shree Swaminarayan Mandir - Bhuj 2 RELIGIOUS RITES Available at Shree Swaminrayan mandir, Shree Narnarayan Dev Kothar opp City police Station Bhuj - Kutch Pin No. 370001 All Rights reserved © Shree Swaminarayan Mandir - Bhuj First Edition :- Copies :- 3000. Samvat :- 2066 Vaishakh Sud 5 Date :- 18 - 5 - 2010 Price :- Rs. 20 Typing & set by :- Dr. Swami Satyaprasad dasji Printed in India at Shree Narnarayan Printing Press Shree Swaminarayan mandir - Bhuj RELIGIOUS RITES 3 Introduction The rites perform by the devotees of uddhav sect are entirely according to shastra and shastrokta way. Hence this sect is entirely Vaidic sect already proved the shikshapatri written by Bhagwan Swaminaryan himself contains the rules, religious rules. Shree Satamand muni Virchit Satsangijivan is also included. This book highlights the practice Urdava Pundra bearing putting kanthi along the neck and Nitya Puja is based on totally scientific way and classical system have the generation may ask some questions as to what is the benefit of Tilak and wearing kanthi around the neck and worshipping. What do they get by Bhakti. So Swamiji has explained the above questions in classical way the benefit, bodily mentally and financially. And next what ever we do, one must know the basic reason of our act so that we may know its result.
    [Show full text]
  • ETHNOGRAPHY in the TIME of CORONA Social Impact of The
    1 ETHNOGRAPHY IN THE TIME OF CORONA Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka Sindi Haxhi Student Number: 12757454 [email protected] Supervisor: Dr. Oskar Verkaaik Medical Anthropology and Sociology University of Amsterdam 10 August 2020 2 Acknowledgments Having to do ethnography in such a turbulent time has been an experience that has taught me more about my profession than any class could ever have. Most importantly, it taught me that it is in these uncertain times that people come together to help one another, and this researcher could have never happened without the support of some wonderful people. I would like to take the time here and acknowledge some of these people who have contributed, officially or unofficially, to the final product of my ethnographic work. First of all, this research could have never come to life without the help of my local supervisor, Dr. Ruwan Ranasinghe, as well as the whole Uva Wellassa University. When I arrived in Badulla, it was the day that marked the beginning of the lockdown and the nation-wide curfew, which would become our normality for the next two months. During this time, following the vice-chancellor's decision, Professor Jayantha Lal Ratnasekera, I was offered free accommodation inside the campus as well as free transportation to the city centre for essentials shopping. For the next three months, every staff member at the campus made sure I would feel like home, something so crucial during a time of isolation. Words could never describe how grateful I am to each and every one of them for teaching me the essence of solidarity and hospitality.
    [Show full text]
  • Report on Citizenship Law:Sri Lanka
    COUNTRY REPORT 2017/10 REPORT ON MAY 2017 CITIZENSHIP LAW:SRI LANKA AUTHORED BY LUWIE GANESHATHASAN ASANGA WELIKALA © Luwie Ganeshathasan and Asanga Welikala, 2017 This text may be downloaded only for personal research purposes. Additional reproduction for other purposes, whether in hard copies or electronically, requires the consent of the authors. If cited or quoted, reference should be made to the full name of the author(s), editor(s), the title, the year and the publisher. Requests should be addressed to [email protected]. Views expressed in this publication reflect the opinion of individual authors and not those of the European University Institute. Global Citizenship Observatory (GLOBALCIT) Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies in collaboration with Edinburgh University Law School Report on Citizenship Law: Sri Lanka RSCAS/GLOBALCIT-CR 2017/10 May 2017 © Luwie Ganeshathasan and Asanga Welikala, 2017 Printed in Italy European University Institute Badia Fiesolana I – 50014 San Domenico di Fiesole (FI) www.eui.eu/RSCAS/Publications/ cadmus.eui.eu Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies The Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies (RSCAS), created in 1992 and directed by Professor Brigid Laffan, aims to develop inter-disciplinary and comparative research on the major issues facing the process of European integration, European societies and Europe’s place in 21st century global politics. The Centre is home to a large post-doctoral programme and hosts major research programmes, projects and data sets, in addition to a range of working groups and ad hoc initiatives. The research agenda is organised around a set of core themes and is continuously evolving, reflecting the changing agenda of European integration, the expanding membership of the European Union, developments in Europe’s neighbourhood and the wider world.
    [Show full text]
  • College of William and Mary Department of Economics Working Paper Number 137
    The Labor/Land Ratio and India’s Caste System Harriet Orcutt Duleep (Thomas Jefferson Program in Public Policy, College of William and Mary and IZA- Institute for the Study of Labor) College of William and Mary Department of Economics Working Paper Number 137 March 2013 COLLEGE OF WILLIAM AND MARY DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS WORKING PAPER # 137 March 2013 The Labor/Land Ratio and India’s Caste System Abstract This paper proposes that India’s caste system and involuntary labor were joint responses by a nonworking landowning class to a low labor/land ratio in which the rules of the caste system supported the institution of involuntary labor. The hypothesis is tested in two ways: longitudinally, with data from ancient religious texts, and cross-sectionally, with twentieth-century statistics on regional population/land ratios linked to anthropological measures of caste-system rigidity. Both the longitudinal and cross-sectional evidence suggest that the labor/land ratio affected the caste system’s development, persistence, and rigidity over time and across regions of India. JEL Codes: J47, J1, J30, N3, Z13 Keywords: labor-to-land ratio, population, involuntary labor, immobility, value of life, marginal product of labor, market wage Harriet Duleep Thomas Jefferson Program in Public Policy College of William and Mary Williamsburg VA 23187-8795 [email protected] The Labor/Land Ratio and India’s Caste System I. Background Several scholars have observed that, historically, the caste system was more rigid in south India than in other parts of India. In the 1930’s, Gunther (1939, p. 378) described south India as the “...home of Hinduism in its most intensive form...virtually a disease...
    [Show full text]
  • Unit 1 Reconstructing Ancient Society with Special
    Harappan Civilisation and UNIT 1 RECONSTRUCTING ANCIENT Other Chalcolithic SOCIETY WITH SPECIAL Cultures REFERENCE TO SOURCES Structure 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Sources 1.1.1 Epigraphy 1.1.2 Numismatics 1.1.3 Archaeology 1.1.4 Literature 1.2 Interpretation 1.3 The Ancient Society: Anthropological Readings 1.4 Nature of Archaeology 1.5 Textual Sources 1.6 Summary 1.7 Glossary 1.8 Exercises 1.0 INTRODUCTION The primary objective of this unit is to acquaint the learner with the interpretations of the sources that reveal the nature of the ancient society. We therefore need to define the meaning of the term ‘ancient society’ to begin with and then move on to define a loose chronology in the context of the sources and their readings. It would also be useful to have an understanding about the various readings of the sources, a kind of a historiography of the interpretative regime. In order to facilitate a better understanding this unit is divided into five sections. In the introduction we have discussed the range of interpretations that are deployed on the sources and often the sources also become interpretative in nature. The complexity of the sources has also been dealt with in the same context. The new section then discusses the ancient society and what it means. This discussion is spread across the regions and the varying sources that range from archaeology to oral traditions. The last section then gives some concluding remarks. 1.1 SOURCES Here we introduce you to different kinds of sources that help us reconstruct the social structure.
    [Show full text]