CASTE

Book Details

• ISBN: 9788131610480

• Binding: Hardcover

• Number of Pages: 111

• Release Date: 01-12-2019

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Sale Territory: India

About the Book

Caste in Comparative Perspective is a thought-provoking and accessible text that engages with the concept of caste, exploring its historical and contemporary significance. The author, Ursula Sharma, critically examines caste not just as an Indian phenomenon, but as a concept that can be analyzed and compared globally. Drawing from orientalist descriptions of Indian society, the book explores how caste has evolved into a framework for understanding social stratification.

This book challenges the conventional view of caste as unique to Hindu India and argues for a comparative sociology that is essential for understanding social inequality and cultural differences across societies. With discussions on how caste intersects with other dimensions of difference, such as class and ethnicity, this text provides valuable insights into the ongoing debates around caste, untouchability, and social change.

The book is an important resource for students of comparative sociology, social anthropology, ethnicity studies, cultural difference, religious studies, and Asian studies.

Contents

1. Introduction: Specificities and Comparisons

2. Caste in Social Science Discourse: Antecedents and Debates

3. What do Indians have to Say about Caste?

4. The Debate about Untouchables: Consensus or Resistance?

5. Practising Caste: How Much Change Before Caste Turns into Something Else?

6. Conclusion: Cross-Cultural Comparisons Again

About the Author / Editor

Ursula Sharma is a renowned anthropologist and author with expertise in sociology and social anthropology. Having conducted extensive fieldwork both in India and Britain, she has contributed significantly to the academic study of caste. Ursula Sharma has held academic positions at the University of Delhi and Keele University and is currently serving as a Professor of Comparative Sociology at the University of Derby. Her research and writings have made significant contributions to the understanding of social inequality, cultural differences, and social change.