Social Mobility In Kerala: Modernity and Identity in ConflictThe Izhavas are an ex-untouchable community in the southern Indian state of Kerala. Politically and economically weak, stigmatised as ‘toddy tappers’ and ‘devil dancers’, and considered unapproachable by clean caste Hindus, a century ago Izhavas were associated with other manual-labouring untouchable castes. In recent decades they have sought to improve their position by accumulating economic, symbolic and cultural capital through employment, religion, politics, migration, marriage, education and have tried to assert their right to mobility, often in the face of opposition from their high status Christian and Nayar neighbours. This study examines how Izhavas, through repudiation of their nineteenth-century identity and search for mobility, have come into complex relationships with modernity, colonialism and globalisation. Filippo Osella and Caroline Osella highlight the complexities and contradictions of modern identity, both locally and globally. The authors’ approach builds upon and goes beyond a south Asian focus, showing how the Izhavas represent the rise of formerly stigmatised groups who remain at the same time trapped by stereotype and material disadvantage. Absolute mobility, they argue, has not led to relative mobility within a society which remains stratified and prone to new forms of social exclusion. |
What people are saying - Write a review
We haven't found any reviews in the usual places.
Contents
Working for Progress | 38 |
Marriage and Mobility | 81 |
Promises of Escape | 117 |
Copyright | |
7 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Social Mobility In Kerala: Modernity and Identity in Conflict Filippo Osella,Caroline Osella Limited preview - 2000 |
Common terms and phrases
activist agricultural labourers Aiyappan alliance anpoli arenas asram associated avarna Bhadrakali Bourdieu Brahman bride brother capital cash caste caste's century Channar coconut colonial Communist consumption continue CPI(M culture daughter deities dowry economic elite employment ex-untouchable example festival Fuller gold groom Gulf migrants gunam Guru's Gurudevan gurumandiram hierarchy high-status Hindu Hinduism household identity India involved Izhava families jati Kappa Parambil Kerala Kumaran Asan Kuttiyil kuttiyottam land live Malayalam Malayali manual labour marriage married mobility modernity Mumbai nalukettu Narayana Guru Nayars and Christians neighbours occupation offer organisation Osella paddy panchayat parties percent plantation political polyandrous practices prestige Pulayas Rajah reform relations relatives religious ritual sambandham Sasthamuri shrine Sivagiri Sivamuri SNDP social SSLC status strategies style Swami Tamil Tamil Nadu tharavadu Thiruvananthapuram toddy toddy-tapper Travancore untouchability Valiyagramam village wealth wedding women workers young