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Social History of th...
Social History of the Tamils (1707-1947) (PB)
by: P. SubramanianThe book offers an account of the Tamils society, economy, religious beliefs, educational mechanisms, arts and cultural expressions (during 1707-1947). It also discusses the profound influence of colonial rule in the tradition-bound Tamilian society.
$34.00
ISBN: 9788124601228
Year Of Publication: 2005
Edition: 3rd
Pages : x, 526
Bibliographic Details : Glossary; Bibliography; Index
Language : English
Binding : Paperback
Publisher: D.K. Printworld Pvt. Ltd.
Size: 23 cm.
Weight: 800
Notwithstanding the prolificity of indepth researches in contemporary historiography, Professor Subramanian’s book is the first concentrative effort to track down the social history of the Tamils. Today, the Tamils, over fifty million of them, live in the south-eastern state of the Indian peninsula: Tamil Nadu — which indisputably represents the very nucleus of millennia-old Dravidian culture in India. The book offers a compelling account of the Tamils’ society, economy, religious beliefs, educational mechanisms, arts, and cultural expressions during the years 1707-1947 — when, significantly, the British domination blossomed, bloomed, and faded; when new thoughts, new ideas, and new ways of life came as irresistibly into the homeland of the Tamils as into the Indian subcontinent. Thus retracing over two centuries of the ‘British connextion with India’, the author here tries to show how the long colonial rule in India exposed the tradition-bound Tamilian society to Western influences — with results that proved incalculable in both their range and depth. Social History of the Tamils : 1707-1947 is the outcome of Professor Subramanian’s decade-long, painstaking research, authenticated by an astonishing mass of evidence including archival records, Jesuit sources, Modi (Maratha) manuscripts, newspapers’ reports, biographies, travelogues, literary writings, and even fictional works.
Preface
Introduction
1. Social Conditions
Caste System
Joint Family and Women
Rural and Urban Communites
Everyday Life
2. Economic Conditions
Land and its Importance
Economic Conditions
Industries and Industrial Classes
3. Religion
Shaivism
Shri Vaishnavism
Christianity
Islam
Minor Religious Sects
Village Gods and Deities
Modern Religious Movements
4. Education
Indigenous Institutions of Learning
Policy of the Government
Education 1900-47
Education of the Depressed Classes
Education of the Muslims
Female Education
5. Art and Letters
Music
Dance
Cinema
Architecture
Sculpture
Painting
Literature
Tamil Prose
Poetry
6. Conclusion
Bibliography
Glossary
Index
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Artisans and Craftsmen of Northern India $40.00
The basic aim of the book is to expose the major contributions of artisans and craftsmen in portraying the society in different perspectives. These artisans and craftsmen, were drawn mostly from the shudras, lower caste of the community, suppressed and have-nots section of the society, but were highly talented. The work is also designed to create interest among the reader and scholars alike, to understand the society of the period under reference through the immortal art of these creative people. The artisans such as potters, weavers, carpenters, architects, sculptors, brick-makers, metallurgy and metal workers, leather workers, painters, and the workers engaged in the profession of ivory, glass and mirror, perfume and cosmetic, musical instrument, oil, salt and liquor makers, etc. were the heroes of that time, who not only met the day-to-day requirement of the then society, but also portrayed different aspects of their life, in its true color, through their workmanship. It was the architect who designed and constructed houses to live in, as well as water tank, well and channel, royal building, stupa, temple and fort, bridge, pillar and rock-edict etc., which met the need of the society.
Today, we feel proud of the rich heritage of old Indian art and architecture, credit for which solely goes to the then artisan who crafted immortal creations. However, the invaluable contribution made by the historians in immortalizing their creations, by putting them in black and white, is no less important. It is the historian, whose mighty pen has immortalized not only Ashoka the great, as a king but also the creators of the stupas of his times on equal footings. It is with this aim in view that the present book has been presented to the posterity, in order to pay rich tributes to the creators of our rich cultural heritage.
Unluckly there was no proper institutionalized provision for the education of artisans and craftsmen, so generally the former adopted the occupation of their parents and hereditary skill was enhances as it was transferred from father to son, and generation to generation. Contemporary sources reveal that the social stautus of artisan class was based on the nature and economic conditions of a particular profession. -
Acheulian Culture in Peninsular India $20.00
The Indian sub-continent, particularly the Peninsular India, is recognised as one of the richest areas of Acheulian occupation in the Old World. This research work is a detailed study of the Acheulian Culture system in India signifying the earliest cultural occupation here. The book examines the cultural material of the Acheulian phase in its ecological setting to throw light on the distribution pattern, nature of habitats, Quaternary deposits, mammalian and hominid remains, land use and subsistence, site formation process, genesis and chronology of the Acheulian cultural system. Incorporating his own field observations over the last three decades and more as well as integrating and synthesising the available data and evidence on Acheulian culture, Dr. R.S. Pappu presents a comprehensive understanding of the Acheulian system and, in general, behavioural patterns of early hunting and food gathering communities. He also provides an account of the progress of Palaeolithic research in India since the first discovery of Palaeolithic settlement by Foote in 1863, tracing the major projects and contributions of noted Indian geo-archaeologists.
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Art & Archaeology of India $28.00
The book begins with an introduction on the prehistoric and proto-historic cultures of India. Well-known historians discuss human evolution as gathered from hominid fossil remains, pre-human hominid remains of the Siwaliks and fossil remains of the Narmada basin. The systematic study, mentioning the areas of finds and their geography and other characteristics, examines the nature of cultural relics belonging to each period and dynastic rule; agriculture, trade, settlement and migration patterns related to making, use and spread of art materials; how the finds reflect upon rise of craft and industrial centers at the time; and social and religious aspects of society that are revealed by the art and architecture of the periods. Importantly, it reveals the interchange of cultural thoughts and lifestyles and of art and architectural influences; and the synthesis of artistic style and materials as evident in especially the periods of Muslim rule in India. The book also features fossil finds, art and architectural materials pertaining to painting, pottery, sculpture and iconography, and literary materials like Persian documents housed in the Indraprastha Museum of Art and Archaeology, New Delhi. The materials date from the stone ages, Indus-Saraswati Civilization and Chalcolithic period to what are commonly identified as the ancient medieval and modern periods of Indian history. The volume will be useful to scholars and students of various disciplines history, archeology, art and culture, and sociology.
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History and Culture of Tamil Nadu: Vol. 2 (PB) $20.00
Epigraphy, or the study of inscriptions, has played a very important role in reconstructing the history of India. Tamil Nadu in particular has a very large number of epigraphs, which have been of immense help to historians in writing about the history of the Tamil country. The majority of these inscriptions are written in Tamil. However, beginning from the sixth century ad, a large number of inscriptions, both lithic and copper-plate grants came to be composed in Sanskrit as well. Some of these epigraphs are wholly in Sanskrit while some, especially the copper-plate inscriptions, are bi-lingual, with the first or prashasti portion in chaste Sanskrit and the second or operative part of the record being in Tamil.
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Agneya-Kona of Bharatavarsha $40.00
The book focuses on the cultural developments of Agneya-Kona (the south-east India) and their contributions to the development of humanity, and highlights the concocted history of Bharatavarsha, especially of Agneya-Kona.
The author projects many artefacts to substantiate his theory. Many archaeological findings Þ the pre-historic rock painting of Gudahandi, images of female figurines, along with circular discs, and nude female figurines are cases in point. Female principle was worshipped in the Mahanadi Valley both in aniconic and iconic forms.
Agneya-Kona has contributed significantly to the growth of the tantric worship. In the pre-historic rock painting of Gudahandi, there is a trace of Yoga, especially Kundalini Yoga. The book details the spiritual and yogic culture of Orissa, the formative phase of Purushottama Jagannatha culture, the impact of Narasimha culture, yoni tantra traditions of the Central Mahanadi Valley and the spiritual relationship of Kalahandi with Candipur Tara-Pitha of Birbhum.
A Sumerian temple that imbibed the form of Lord Purushottama Jagannatha is in highlight, and the author makes a strong statement that the culture of the region is older than the Sumerian Civilization.
The book is a source of inspiration for archaeologists and historians, who want to study more about south-east India, and students, teachers and researchers of arts and culture.
