Hiërarchie en mobiliteit. Staten en kasten in koloniaal India

Samenvatting

Hierarchy and Mobility: States and Castes in Colonial India. The British in India were inclined to consider the existing caste ranking as being ordained from time immemorial. Postindependence research however, has shown that the caste system was far from rigid. The position of particular castes was often fiercely contested and frequent attempts were made to rise in caste hierarchy. A similar upward mobility can be observed among Indian states. Before Independence (1947), British India numbered a large number of princely states that were allowed to maintain a semi-independent existence under the aegis of the British paramount power. These states tried to rise within the princely order by arrogating the rights and ceremonial distinctions pertaining to more dominant states. This article will make an attempt to analyze the dynamics of the Indian states with the help of terms and concepts that have become usual for the study of the caste system. 22 References. Adapted from the source document.