Caste

Book Details

• ISBN: 9788131610299

• Binding: Paperback

• Number of Pages: 111

• Release Date: 01-01-2021

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Sale Territory: India

About the Book

Caste in Comparative Perspective is a thoughtful and accessible examination of caste, tracing its origins in orientalist descriptions of Indian society and exploring its relevance in contemporary social science discourse. The book addresses whether caste is unique to India or if the concept can be applied to other societies as well.

The text critically analyzes caste, examining how essential views of caste have shaped its study and how it intersects with other dimensions of difference, such as class and ethnicity. The author, Ursula Sharma, challenges the view that caste is unique to Hindu India and advocates for a comparative sociology that explores broader social processes. By doing so, this book contributes to our understanding of social inequality, cultural differences, and their role in organizing contemporary societies.

This book is a crucial resource for students of comparative sociology, social anthropology, ethnicity studies, cultural difference, and religious studies, as well as those interested in 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 distinguished anthropologist and author. With fieldwork experience in both India and Britain, she has made significant contributions to the study of caste. She has held academic posts at the University of Delhi and Keele University and is currently a Professor of Comparative Sociology at the University of Derby. Her work focuses on social inequality, cultural differences, and social change.