Caste and Equality in India: A Historical Anthropology of Diverse Society and Vernacular Democracy (Routledge New Horizons in South Asian Studies)

This book presents an alternative view of caste in Indian society by analysing caste structure and change in local communities in Orissa from historical and anthropological perspectives. Focusing on the agricultural society in the Khurda district of Orissa between the eighteenth century and 2019, the book links discussions on the current transformation of society and politics in India with analyses of long-term historical transformations. The author suggests that, beyond status and power, there is another value which is important in Indian society, namely ontological equality, which functions as the politico-ethical ground for asserting respect and concern for the life of others. The book argues that the value of ontological equality has played an important role in creating and affirming the diverse society which characterises India. It further contends that the movement towards vernacular democracy, which has become conspicuous since the second half of the 1990s, is a historically groundbreaking event which opens a path beyond the postcolonial predicament, supported by the affirmation of diversity by subalterns based on the value of ontological equality. This important contribution to the study of Indian society will be of interest to academics working on the social, political and economic history, sociology, anthropology and political science of South Asia, as well as to those interested in social and political theory. "This book presents an alternative view of caste in Indian society by analyzing caste structure and change in local communities in Orissa from historical and anthropological perspectives. Focusing on the agricultural society in the Khurda district of Orissa between the eighteenth century and 2019, the book links discussions on the current transformation of society and politics in India with analyses of long-term historical transformations. The author suggests that, beyond status and power, there is another value which is important in Indian society, namely ontological equality which functions as the politico-ethical ground for asserting respect and concern for life of others. The book argues that the value of ontological equality has played an important role in creating and affirming the diverse society which characterizes India. It further contends that the movement towards vernacular democracy, that has become conspicuous since the second half of the 1990s, is a historically ground-breaking event which opens a path beyond the postcolonial predicament, supported by the affirmation of diversity by the subalterns based on the value of ontological equality. This important contribution to the study of Indian society will be of interest to academics working on the social, political and economic history, sociology, anthropology and political science of South Asia, as well as to those interested in social and political theory"-- Provided by publisher This book presents an alternative view of caste in Indian society by analyzing caste structure and change in local communities in Orissa from historical and anthropological perspectives. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Series Page 3 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Table of Contents 6 List of figures 8 List of maps 10 List of tables 11 Preface 13 Acknowledgements 25 Note on transliteration 28 Glossary 29 List of Abbreviations 41 Weights and measures 43 Chapter 1 Introduction: Towards a cultural politics of ethics in everyday practice 44 Chapter 2 Managing diversities: Frontiers, forest communities and little kingdoms 68 Chapter 3 Local society and kingship: Reconsidering ‘caste’, ‘community’ and ‘state’ 87 Chapter 4 Early colonial transformation: The emergence of wedged dichotomies 131 Chapter 5 Consolidation of colonial dichotomy: Political economy and cultural identity 147 Chapter 6 Postcolonial tradition: The biomoral universe 170 Chapter 7 Cash and faction: ‘The logic of the fish’ in the political economy 199 Chapter 8 Ritual, history and identity: The Goddess Rāmacaṇḍī festival 220 Chapter 9 Recast(e)ing identity: Transformations from below 259 Chapter 10 Vernacular democracy: A post-postcolonial transformation 282 Chapter 11 Conclusion: Beyond the postcolonial 303 Appendix 1: Deed of Sale of Village Office 312 Appendix 2: Details of State Tax 314 Bibliography 318 Index 355 caste;,equality;,India caste,equality,India