Description

About the Book

The sole objective of this Encyclopaedia is to present the descriptive ethnographical descriptions of 320 Muslim castes and communities—both past and present—and the factors that have caused to change their life style.  Summarises of each entry usually provides information about demographic features, the origins and history of the ethnic groups, social life, rites and rituals, economic activities, administration and justice,  religion and culture, inter-community relation, and process of modernization. As the entries of this study show that Muslims have much in common, they share an universal trans-ethnic religion—Islam. They worship the same God, recognize more or less the same religious laws, observe many of the same rituals and share distinguishable culture traits derived from their Islamic heritage.

About the Author

ABIDA SAMIUDDIN is an eminent feminist scholar and journalist. She did M.A. in History and Urdu Literature from Patna University, Patna. She has contributed number of research articles in reputed journals and newspapers and presented papers in various national and international level seminars and conferences. She had worked in Urdu Academy, Patna for two years. Presently, she is doing freelance journalism and associated with important newspapers and NGOs.

R. KHANAM is a senior research fellow of sociology of Rabindra Bharti University, Kolkata. Presently, She teaches sociology in Abhedananda Mahavidyalaya, Birbhum. She has contributed some important research papers in journals of national repute and presented papers in national and international level seminars.  She is associated with social activities of women welfare.