Asian Studies - South Asia - India, Indian History - Social Aspects, Socio-Cultural Anthropology - General & Miscellaneous, Indic & South Asian Philosophy
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Overview
This text examines the concept of caste, noting its origin in orientalist descriptions of Indian society, and showing how it made its way into social scientific discourse as a tool for the comparative analysis of social stratification. It reviews social scientists' accounts of caste in contemporary India, discussing the theoretical assumptions underlying such descriptions. The author takes issue with the view of caste which regards it as specific to Hindu India and makes a case for a comparative sociology concerned with social processes. The book represents a key text for students of comparative sociology and social anthropology, as well as those studying ethnicity, cultural difference and social and cultural change, religious studies, and others with an interest in Asian studies.Editorials
Booknews
Drawing on her background in anthropology, Sharma (sociology, U. of Derby) examines the concept of caste, noting its origin in orientalist descriptions of Indian society, and tracing how it made its way into social scientific discourse as a tool for the comparative analysis of social stratification. She takes exception with the notion that caste is specific to Hindu India, and argues that it can be used to clarify social inequality and cultural differences in modern societies. Distributed in the US by Taylor and Francis. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.Book Details
Published
February 1, 1999
Publisher
Buckingham ; Open University Press, 1999.
Pages
112
Format
Paperback
ISBN
9780335197170