Gender, Caste, and Religious Identities Restructuring Class in Colonial Punjab

by Malhotra, Anshu

• ISBN13: 9780195672404
• ISBN10: 0195672402
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-06-23
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

The book studies the interplay of gender, caste, and religious identities in colonial Punjab. It focuses on the middle-class and how it brings into play gender and caste norms to counter the erosion of its economic advatages, and the subservience of its social and religious institutions under colonialism.

Table of Contents

List of Abbreviations	xi
Glossary	xii
Introduction	1	(14)
Sources	6	(9)
CHAPTER 1: Gender, Caste, and Religious Identities in Punjab	15	(32)
Caste and Colonial Intervention	16	(8)
The Colonial Gaze and Punjabi Society	24	(10)
Insecurity and Ambition: The High Caste, Middle Class Elite of Punjab	34	(4)
Caste, Gender, and the Arya Samaj Movement in Punjab	38	(3)
Caste, Gender, and the Singh Sabha Movement in Punjab	41	(6)
CHAPTER 2: 'Killing', 'Gifting' or 'Selling' Daughters: The Pressures on a High Caste Identity	47	(35)
Infanticide, Hypergamy and Marriage Expenses	49	(12)
Takka', 'Vatta', vs. Marriages of 'Pun'	61	(10)
Jhagrras/Kissas and the Spread of the Reformist Message	71	(11)
CHAPTER 3: Ascetic Widowhood or Widow Remarriage? Dilemma for the New Punjabi Elite	82	(34)
The Widow and High Caste Status	84	(4)
Containing a Widow's Sexuality	88	(9)
Economic Marginality of a Widow	97	(7)
The Attractions of Asceticism and Public Service	104	(6)
Assertion of Agency: Widow Savitri Devi	110	(6)
CHAPTER 4: Controlling Women: Recreating the Pativrata Wife as the Ideal Upper Caste Woman	116	(48)
Pativrata and the Iconization of the Husband	121	(10)
The Serving Lachhmi-Placing the Pativrata in the Family	131	(13)
The Making of the Pativrata: Education a Double-Edged Weapon	144	(11)
Fragmentary, but Powerful Voices	155	(9)
CHAPTER 5: Powerful Women-Fearful Men: Reforming Women's Popular Culture	164	(36)
Reproduction, Barrenness, and Visiting Holy Men	170	(9)
Women's Sexuality, Holy Men, and the Reformist Intervention	179	(12)
Women's Culture and Power: Attempts at Women's Confinement	191	(9)
Conclusion	200	(5)
Bibliography	205	(15)
Index	220