Return-Path: <nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id g136fFu24959; Sun, 3 Feb 2002 01:41:15 -0500 (EST) Date: Sun, 3 Feb 2002 01:41:15 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <sc5c941a.045@langate.gsu.edu> Errors-To: alcrsb@langate.gsu.edu Reply-To: nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Daphne Greenberg" <alcdgg@langate.gsu.edu> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-WOMENLIT:1968] two blank messages X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII X-Mailer: Novell GroupWise Internet Agent 5.5.6.1 Status: O Content-Length: 2971 Lines: 21 For some of you, two messages recently came across your computer screen as blank. I have reposted them here for your convenience (they are Post #1960 from Ujwala and Post #1965 from Elsa). I will start with post #1960 and then #1965: Post #1960 from Ujwala: Since I have not read Joan Mencher's book, I can't comment on it. However caste and class are two separate, yet intertwined entities. Caste began with a clear cut rationale, not an economic phenomenon. Caste began as a distribution of labour, a selection of professions. And these were porous divisions, with flexible boundaries in the past, especially during Vedic and pre-Vedic periods. Women held and owned properties, had lovers, remained single, married, polyandry was not uncommon, were intellectuals and business owners. With every wave of invaders, caste became solidified as something hereditary, quite the opposite of its original intention when created. People could not change caste nor enter into professions other than the caste they were born into. Women lost a lot of their freedoms and choices. The sage Manu who wrote down rules of behaviour for Hindu society, (and I mean this man went into details, including how women and men should dress and wash), also described women as licentious and needing the stronger guiding hand of a male relative. Historically though there have always been rebellions, and people have crossed this caste barrier. During the religious renaissance, we saw the rise of many saints, scholars and philosophers (Sakhubai from Pandharpur, Eknath, etc.) from the lower castes. We also saw the rise of the slave dynasty, with ultimately a queen at it's head. In today's India, we see less clear distinctions in caste except when it comes to marriage. During marriages, arranged or otherwise, caste inormation is a given. And yes there are people who will marry into their own castes, or avoid marrying people from other castes. By the same token, the government (and Gandhi's concept of Untouchables) has made some major quotas for the lower castes. Class has been if anything, in the urban areas, a leveller where caste is concerned. People of all castes live in buildings, there are no "enclaves" for certain castes versus others. I recommend reading Romila Thapar's History of India part One at least to get an idea of caste and then: Sharma, K.L. (1986). Caste, class and social movements. Jaipur : Rawat Publications. Ilaiah, K. (1990). Reservations : Experience as framework of debate. Economic and Political Weekly. 2307-2310. I think we will then have a basis for discussion. Regards Ujwala Post #1965 from Elsa I have enjoyed reading these snippits about books re: India, Pakistan, the Phillipines. I am wondering if someone (perhaps Ujwala?) could compile all the suggestions that have appeared on the list into a bibliography (maybe even an annotated one, if there were annotations in the messages). What a wonderful resource this would be. Elsa Auerbach
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