Reinventing Ramanand: caste and History in Gangetic India

Article Abstract:

Little is known about Ramanand despite his leading a major religious revolution in India and founding a monastic order that is the largest of the Vaishnava orders. This lack of information allowed for the Ramanandi crisis of 1918-1921 where some followers re-interpreted Ramanand's life to condemn caste values, splitting the order between those who felt castes were retained upon entering the order and those who supported an egalitarian approach. The changes in Ramanandi myth and memory indicate support for the caste hierarchy may not have been as strong as believed in Colonial India.

Influence, Caste, Monasticism and religious orders, Religious orders (Christian)

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Widows versus daughters or widows as daughters? Property, land, and economic security in rural India

Article Abstract:

Widows, usually elderly women, in India represent a stage in the life cycle of women. It is essential that their right to property be made secure to ensure economic viability. The most significant form of property in rural India is arable land. The social security policy of India focuses mainly on widows and pensions, ignoring for the most part unmarried women or those divorced, separated or deserted. Widows' property rights are often not upheld and other women's claims get even less respect.

Social security, Right of property, Property rights, Widows

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Dancing the goddess: possession and class in Tamil South India

Article Abstract:

The possession ritual has to do with caste, class and gender in Tamil South India. Only the richest and most influential men in a caste can claim possession by a benign deity. This type of possession also hereditary and is very important in local politics. In regions of much social mobility religion becomes a tool of opposing factions seeking control over local politics. Research on this phenomenon was carried out in the village of Aruloor where the Mutharajah caste predominates.

Hinduism

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