Book

Agriculture and social structure in Tamil Nadu: past origins, present transformations and future prospects

Carolina Academic PressDurham, Nc • Published In 1978 • Pages:

By: Mencher, Joan P..

Abstract
This work is basically a study of the various social forces that tend to speed up or slow down cultural change in society. The primary focus here is on agriculture, since the author believes that this is of crucial importance in any society, and also because it falls within the range of the author's expertise. The core of the work - which bears a strong Marxian orientation (p. 10) - examines Tamil social structure and the structure of the agricultural system now in use in the state of Tamil Nadu (particularly in Chingleput district), both in historical perspective and as it exists today, in order to ask three fundamental questions: (1) what possibilities exist at the present time for any development to occur; (2) what type of development is possible or even conceivable; and (3) what are the obstacles to development which are considered insurmountable. The further expansion of these themes constitutes the bulk of this document. In addition to the abundant agricultural data, there is also a great deal of information to be found on land tenure and tenancy, caste and class structure, labor organization, and political structure.
Subjects
Theoretical orientation in research and its results
Tillage
Cereal agriculture
Production and supply
Real property
Water supply
Renting and leasing
Castes
Classes
Districts
culture
Tamil
HRAF PubDate
2009
Region
Asia
Sub Region
South Asia
Document Type
Book
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
John Beierle ; 1983
Field Date
1963-1971
Coverage Date
1895-1971
Coverage Place
Chingleput District, Tamil Nadu State, India
Notes
by Joan P. Mencher
Includes bibliographical references (p. [301]-307) and index
LCCN
77080768
LCSH
Tamil (Indic people)/Agriculture and state-India-Chingleput (District)/Agriculture and state-India-Tamil Nadu/Land tenure-India-Chingleput (District)/Chingleput, India (District)-Rural conditions