Pollution, untouchabiligy and harijans : a south Indian ethnography /

This book critically examines the widely circulated Dumontian approach of "pure-impure" ideology in the context of social pollution in India, as this concept sees pollution as an object of repression and rejection and, as such, is a negative concept. To overcome the limitations of this con...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Sekine, Yasumasa
Format: Printed Book
Language:English
Published: Jaipur : Rawat Publications, c2011.
Subjects:
Dalits > India > Tamil Nadu.
Tamil (Indic people) > Rites and ceremonies.
Tamil (Indic people) > Social life and customs.
Caste > India > Tamil Nadu.
LEADER 02272cam a2200265Ia 4500
003 OCoLC
008 110623s2011 ii ab b 001 0 eng c
999 |c 178010  |d 178010 
010 |a 2011321239 
020 |a 9788131603857 
020 |a 8131603857 
039 |a (OCoLC)732681015 
043 |a a-ii--- 
100 1 |a Sekine, Yasumasa, 
245 1 0 |a Pollution, untouchabiligy and harijans :  |b a south Indian ethnography /  |c Yasumasa Sekine. 
260 |a Jaipur :  |b Rawat Publications,  |c c2011. 
300 |a xxv, 390 p. :  |b ill., map ;  |c 25 cm. 
504 |a Includes bibliographic references. 
520 |a This book critically examines the widely circulated Dumontian approach of "pure-impure" ideology in the context of social pollution in India, as this concept sees pollution as an object of repression and rejection and, as such, is a negative concept. To overcome the limitations of this concept, the book argues that "pollution" and "impurity" may not be the same, and that, in reality, the very marginal nature of pollution facilitates for a creative space - a space with hidden potential for decentralization - where it is possible to radically change one's own sense of order through encounters with others. With this realistic view, the cultural realities of India's Harijans (untouchables) are discussed, by interpreting the rituals and daily behavior of villagers across their socio-economic situations, caste positions, and lineage. This observation - in the context of a comparison to the upper castes - makes it clear that the Harijans are led by a desire for improvements in the quantity and quality of life and live strategically within the same core reality of "pollution" ideology as the upper castes. The book points out that the stereotyped image of the Indian society as "an alien and incomprehensible society that still maintains a discriminatory caste system" is to be reconsidered and set right. 
650 0 |a Dalits  |z India  |z Tamil Nadu. 
650 0 |a Tamil (Indic people)  |x Rites and ceremonies. 
650 0 |a Tamil (Indic people)  |x Social life and customs. 
650 0 |a Caste  |z India  |z Tamil Nadu. 
942 |c BK 
952 |0 0  |1 0  |2 ddc  |4 0  |6 305_568800000000000_SEK_P  |7 0  |9 197303  |a WMS  |b WMS  |c ST1  |d 2014-07-14  |i 979  |l 0  |o 305.5688 SEK/P  |p WMS979  |r 2021-03-10  |v 995.00  |y BK 

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