Description

About the Book

The sole objective of this revised edition is to present the descriptive ethnographical summaries of 134 Dalit castes of Western India (Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan) who are categorised as Shudra in Hindu social order. Here we focus on the ways of living and the factors that have caused to change their socioeconomic and political life. Summaries of each entry usually provides information on the physical features, history of origin, Social system, rites and rituals; economic activities, administration and justice; religion and culture, inter-community relationship, and modernisation. The new edition seems to be as informative as possible given the limitation of space and knowledge of contributors. This monumental work is useful for scholars and readers of ethnic study of western Indian the Dalit communities.

About the Author

K.C. Das, born in Bhagalpur and received M.A. (Political Science) from Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur. He is an eminent dalit scholar who has written number of important articles in newspapers and journals of national reputes. As a leading scholar and journalist, he has participated and guided many social justice movement.

Bhupen Chaudhary, born in Munger and educated from Bhagalpur University, is a young and dynamic research scholar, an erudite editor of sociology. He is now carrying research on “Social Movement and Agrarian Transformation in Bihar (1947–1990).” He has contributed a number of important research papers on sociology in  journals of national repute. Presently, he is teaching in J.R.S. College, Jamalpur.