Harijans in Hindu and Tribal Social Structures

Study of untouchability and social discrimination in Orissa comes from a genuine and long-standing interest of the author in the phenomenon and how it is manifest within the social structure of Orissan society. The problem of caste discrimination in Indian society is an inherent compo nent of the structure of the society. Using traditional status-indicators like commensality, connubiality, ritual service, etc., the book analyses rela tions at the surface structure as well as at the deep structural levels and reveals as to how untouchability is shaped by deep-rooted paradigms of purity and pollution. And further it shows how fine discriminations at territorial, ritual and vocational-evels determine social and interpersonal interactions, and suggests that all the institutions and superstructures in caste and tribal social structures are ultimately built upon an economic cum-ritual base. It provides immense information and interpretative data which have explanatory value for broad areas of human behaviour within the social structure.

The book will prove to be indis pensable not only for teachers and research scholars, but also for social workers, administrators and policy planners.