Nandanar's Children: The Paraiyans' Tryst with Destiny, Tamil Nadu 1850 - 1956 (SAGE Series in Modern Indian History)

The narrative of this book is built around the historical experiences of the Paraiyars of Tamil Nadu. The author traces the transformation of the Paraiyars from an ′untouchable′ and socially despised community to one that came to acquire prominence in the political scene of Tamil Nadu, especially in early 20th century. Through this framework, the book studies a number of issues: subaltern history, colonial ethnography, agrarian systems, agrarian bondage, land legislations, and the interventions by missionaries and social and political organizations. While delving into the Paraiyar community′s own understanding of history, the book presents the conflicting versions of Adi Dravida politicians and nationalist politics. It establishes that nationalism still serves as the overarching framework under which caste, class and other forms of competing identities operate in the Indian state. It presents a rare amalgamation of government, private and vernacular sources, which adds to its distinctive quality. Elusive Freedom: The Paraiyans And Agrarian Servitude In Nineteenth Century Tamil Nadu -- The Missionary Involvement With The Pariah Issue In South India -- Search For Fresh Pastures: Overseas And Internal Migration Patterns Of The Tamil Paraiyans In The Nineteenth And Twentieth Centuries -- The Paraiyans: From Socio-economic Upliftment To Entry Into Politics -- The Making Of 'adi Dravida' Politics In Tamil Nadu -- Political Groupism And Fractured 'adi Dravida' Politics In Tamil Nadu. Raj Sekhar Basu. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [391]-414) And Index. Builts around the historical experiences of the Paraiyars of Tamil Nadu. This title traces the transformation of the Paraiyars from an 'untouchable' and socially despised community to one that came to acquire prominence in the political scene of Tamil Nadu, especially in early 20th century.