Culturalization of Caste in India

Balmurli Natrajan is Assistant Professor of Anthropology at William Paterson University of New Jersey, USA. His research interests include group formation, caste and race, cultural theory, globalization and Hinduism.

• 1. Introduction 2. Artisans Part 1: Producing Identities 3. Culture 4. Community Part 2: Inequalities 5. Reproduction 6. Multiculturalism

"The author convincingly argues that culturalization of caste may be the key explanation for the resilience - or even the revival - of this social institution... This new theory relies on an impeccable anthropological case study that is worth reading in itself." - Christophe Jaffrelot, Senior Research Fellow, CNRS, France"Balmurli Natrajan's new work on caste is an extraordinary accomplishment... Based on powerful ethnographic portrayals and a stunningly comprehensive review of the literature and debates concerning caste, it argues for nothing less than a social theory committed to the end of caste." - Nicholas B. Dirks, Franz Boas Professor of Anthropology and History, Columbia University, USA"Based on field work carried out among the artisan caste called Jhariya Kumhar from the central plains of Chhattisgarh, India, the book is a provocative theoretical journey supported by empirical data, largely qualitative in nature." - Ujithra Ponniah; Seminar (www.india-seminar.com)