Indian peasantry : anthropological essays in peasantry

The Six essays--Ritual Circles in a Peasant Village, A Peasant Move ment of Central Karnataka, Fertility Festivals and Unity in a Peasant Village, Depth of Gratitude and Poli tical Life among the Peasants, Level of Class Consiousness amog the Peasants, and Devadasi Custom in a Peasant Context-which make up the book are based on the field work undertaken by the author to explore the rich world of Indian peasants from the point of view of a Cultural anthropologist, and as there are a few books on this theme this book will be welcome to the students of Indian peasantry whe ther they are anthropologists or sociologists.

The changing aspects of social, economic, and political lives of Indian peasants are complex in nature and, therefore, difficult to grasp, and, consequently, many of the reforms and legislations which the planners implement to change their lot do not bear the desired fruit. The author is of the opinion that much of our difficulties in under standing the complex lives of Indian peasantry may be resolved should we approach the problem from the standpoint of Cultural anthropology.

Festivals and rituals of peasants therefore offer a rich field of investi gation. By studying them the author has shown how these act us strong cohesive force in the lives of Indian peasants, and how disunity and un rest prevail in their community if the forces of modernization obstruct their cyclical functioning.