Full Description
Using the case of Vagaikulam, an average village in India, and discussing such topics as politics and religion, this study demonstrates that "caste" and "class" factors are in coalition as much as they are in opposition, that they are neither parallel nor compartmentalized but a dynamic process. This work also shows the extent to which the caste-class dynamics are at work in all the major social aspects of the village: economics; business; politics; culture; and recreation
Contents
Part 1 - Introduction: The historical context; resources, theories, methodologies. Part 2 - Maduria and Madurai reion: Ancient rule, society and culture; the people, their occupations. Part 3 - Vagakuliam: A brief social history; social and historical background; pramalai kallar; service castes; the untouchable caste. Part 4 - Capitalism in caste argiculture: Agriculture, land tenure system; three kinds of farming; landholding size, concentration, fragmentation; non-farming occupations. Part 5 - Workings of caste-class dynamics: Caste, class, landownership; beneficiaries of moderisation - collapse of retail businesses; force and violence; politcal mobalisation. Part 7 - Conclusion - Fluctuating dynamics of caste and class forces..
