Description

About the Book

The sole objective of this Encyclopaedia is to present the descriptive ethnographical summaries of 213 North Indian Dalit Castes presumed to be part of Shudra varna in Hindu social order.  Here we focus on the ways of living of North India Dalit and the factor that have caused to change their life style. Summary of each entry usually provides information on the following aspects: Physical Features; History of Origin; Social Life; Rites and Rituals; Economic Activities; Administration and Justice; Religion and Culture; Inter-community Relationship; Modernisation; and Bibliography. Precaution is taken to make this work as informative as possible given the limitation of space and information available to contributors. The task which we have performed here is, no doubt, beset with difficulties but we shall consider our labour amply rewarded if this monumental work proves useful to scholars and readers of ethnic study, of the dalit communities of North India.

About the Editor

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.