Nandanar's Children
The Paraiyans' Tryst with Destiny, Tamil Nadu 1850 - 1956
1st Edition
Published on 31. January 2011
Book
Hardback
492 pages
978-81-321-0514-5 (ISBN)
Description
The narrative of this book is built around the historical experiences of the Paraiyars of Tamil Nadu. The author traces the transformation of the Paraiyars from an 'untouchable' and socially despised community to one that came to acquire prominence in the political scene of Tamil Nadu, especially in early 20th century. Through this framework, the book studies a number of issues: subaltern history, colonial ethnography, agrarian systems, agrarian bondage, land legislations, and the interventions by missionaries and social and political organizations.
While delving into the Paraiyar community's own understanding of history, the book presents the conflicting versions of Adi Dravida politicians and nationalist politics. It establishes that nationalism still serves as the overarching framework under which caste, class and other forms of competing identities operate in the Indian state. It presents a rare amalgamation of government, private and vernacular sources, which adds to its distinctive quality.
While delving into the Paraiyar community's own understanding of history, the book presents the conflicting versions of Adi Dravida politicians and nationalist politics. It establishes that nationalism still serves as the overarching framework under which caste, class and other forms of competing identities operate in the Indian state. It presents a rare amalgamation of government, private and vernacular sources, which adds to its distinctive quality.
Reviews / Votes
The author is to be complimented for taking up a pioneering and path breaking study of the history and politics of the Parayan's community from 1850-1956...[The book] is based on extensive research into historical, political, ethnographic and other source of information available in different part of Tamil Nadu, New Delhi and elsewhere.... [The Author] has written an excellent book which needs careful study by those specialising in the area of the politics and sociology of depressed communities in India. -- Social Change The book is a contribution to the domain of subaltern history and it states without an open claim that the historians should depend, primarily on archival sources. The use of varied and rich archival materials and chronicles in the book establishes this claim. [It] takes its academic credibility while historicizing a lower caste political movement. [It] is placing before us the warp and woof of the political history of the subaltern people... [It] points to the changing faces of caste-politics in the Indian political scenario. -- eSocial Science This 400-page book, based on intensive research and fieldwork in Tamil Nadu, has used lot of archived materials and government reports and documents to substantiate its argument... This book will be a useful guide not only to social scientists and researchers but also to laymen who are interested in understanding Dalit movements. -- The Sunday IndiaMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
New Delhi
India
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 140 mm
Weight
664 gr
ISBN-13
978-81-321-0514-5 (9788132105145)
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Schweitzer Classification
Person
Raj Sekhar Basu is Reader, Department of History, University of Calcutta. Prior to his present appointment, he was Lecturer in the Department of History, Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata. He has also been Visiting Scholar to the Department of History, Uppsala University; Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University and Department of History, Osmania University.
Dr Basu has been awarded many fellowships including Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute Faculty Research Fellowships, Charles Wallace Travel Grants, Wellcome Trust Travel Grants and the Fulbright Seminar Grant, among others.
He has published papers in various reputed journals such as the Indian Historical Review, Studies in History, Contemporary Perspectives in History and Sociology, Seminar, Gandhi Marg, Social Science Probings, Social Scientist and Calcutta Historical Journal.
He has also contributed chapters in volumes published by leading international publishers. He has edited a volume and a monograph on Dalit history.
Dr Basu has been awarded many fellowships including Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute Faculty Research Fellowships, Charles Wallace Travel Grants, Wellcome Trust Travel Grants and the Fulbright Seminar Grant, among others.
He has published papers in various reputed journals such as the Indian Historical Review, Studies in History, Contemporary Perspectives in History and Sociology, Seminar, Gandhi Marg, Social Science Probings, Social Scientist and Calcutta Historical Journal.
He has also contributed chapters in volumes published by leading international publishers. He has edited a volume and a monograph on Dalit history.
Content
Series Editors' Preface
Preface
Introduction
Elusive Freedom: The paraiyar's and Agrarian servitude in nineteenth century Tamil Nadu
The Missionary Involvement with the 'Pariah' Issue in South India
Search for Fresh Pastures: Overseas and internal migration patterns of the Tamil Paraiyar's in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries
The Paraiyar: From socio economic uplift to entry into politics
The Making of Adi Dravida Politics in Tamil Nadu
Political Groupism and Fractured Adi Dravida Politics in Tamil Nadu
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
Preface
Introduction
Elusive Freedom: The paraiyar's and Agrarian servitude in nineteenth century Tamil Nadu
The Missionary Involvement with the 'Pariah' Issue in South India
Search for Fresh Pastures: Overseas and internal migration patterns of the Tamil Paraiyar's in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries
The Paraiyar: From socio economic uplift to entry into politics
The Making of Adi Dravida Politics in Tamil Nadu
Political Groupism and Fractured Adi Dravida Politics in Tamil Nadu
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index