The Interpretation of CasteThis book provides a radical alternative to prevailing theories of caste which either build on indigenous rationalizations of the Brahman's supremacy or reduce hierarchy to material factors. Drawing on a wide range of historical and ethnographic sources as well as four years' field work, Declan Quigley proposes a comparative approach which locates caste-organized communities in the context of complex agrarian societies generally. At the heart of caste, he argues, there is a tension between the centralizing forces of kingship with its associated ritual and the decentralizing forces of kinship. Dr Quigley believes that it is this tension, rather than Brahminical ideology, which generates the characteristic patterns of hierarchy and the preoccupation with purity and pollution. In making kingship central to the explanation of caste, this book calls for a considered reexamination of the theory of caste proposed by A. M. Hocart over half a century ago, and offers an elegant and wide-ranging comparative interpretation of facts which have until now eluded satisfactory explanation. |
Contents
List of Figures and Table | 1 |
DUMONTS THEORY OF CASTE | 21 |
The Structuralist Interpretation of Caste | 30 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
accept actually appear argues argument attempt authority becomes believe Brahmans British caste system central chapter claim clear communities comparative concept concerned connection consider continually course cultural death depends derives discussion distinction dominant dominant caste Dumont economic essential example explanation fact families function give given gods groups Gujars hierarchy Hindu historical Hocart hypergamy ibid idea ideology impurity India interpretation jāti kind king kingdom kingship land less lineages marriage married matter means nature Newars observation occupation one's opposition organization original Parry particular patron perform political pollution position possible precisely present priesthood priests principle problem pure purity question Raheja Rajputs rank reason referred regarded relations relationship relative religious represent requires ritual rule rulers sacrifice seems seen sense separation simply social society sociological status structure superiority theory theory of caste traditional understand University values various varna whole