Book
Social mobility in Kerala: modernity and identity in conflict
Pluto Press • London • Published In 2000 • Pages: xi, 320
By: Osella, Filippo, Osella, Caroline.
Abstract
This book discusses social inequality among Kerala villagers. It begins with the life history of individuals belonging to three hierarchically-related castes: high-caste Hindu Brahmans and Nayars, middle-caste Christian families, and low-caste Izhavas. Much of the discussion is devoted to explaining the structural and cultural constraints Izhava families encounter in their attempt to improve their social standing through a lifetime of hard work as farmers, migrant laborers, salaried professionals, community organizers, politicians, and entrepreneurs. The most enduring of constraints are located in a caste system that rigidly differentiates people according to inborn substances and qualities; a system that has proven resilient, despite decades of effort by politicians and religious leaders to replace it with more secular and egalitarian principles.
- HRAF PubDate
- 2017
- Region
- Asia
- Sub Region
- South Asia
- Document Type
- Book
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Anthropologist
- Document Rating
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- Teferi Abate Adem ; 2016
- Field Date
- 1989-1996
- Coverage Date
- 1883-1996
- Coverage Place
- Valiyagramam, (pseudonym) Kerala, India
- Notes
- Filippo Osella and Caroline Osella
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 287-306) and index
- LCCN
- 00009109
- LCSH
- Ezhavas
- Social mobility--India--Kerala