IDENTITY AND SYMBOLS OF SUSTENANCE: EXPLORATIONS IN SOCIAL MOBILITY OF MEDIEVAL SOUTH INDIA

The Orientalist conceptions on pre-colonial social formations in India as static are reviewed. New studies argue that social mobility occurs in the context of caste-oriented structures. Based on epigraphic and literary sources and kulapurāṇa (caste myths) concerning the community of oil producers of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the economic and social history of the Orient 2001-01, Vol.44 (2), p.141-174
Main Author: Durga, P.S. Kanaka
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Art and archaeology
ARTISAN COMMUNITY
Artisans
Caste
CASTE MYTH
Caste Systems
Class Identity
Communities
Dharma
Eulogies
Guilds
India
Kings
Lamps
LEGITIMATION
Manu
MANUVAMSAPURANAM
Medieval history
Middle Ages
OIL MONGERS
OIL PRESSERS
OIL PRODUCERS
Oil products
Religious rituals
Social groups
Social history
SOCIAL MOBILITY
TELIKIS
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Summary:The Orientalist conceptions on pre-colonial social formations in India as static are reviewed. New studies argue that social mobility occurs in the context of caste-oriented structures. Based on epigraphic and literary sources and kulapurāṇa (caste myths) concerning the community of oil producers of medieval times known by the caste name Teliki, this paper shows trends for upward mobility from śūdra varṇa to kṣatriya varṇa. In the case of the peasant-warrior communities (sat śūdras), brāhmins and, in tribal communities, the temples/sectarian leaders acted as the legitimisers. For the Telikis, however, an asat śūdra community, political powers facilitated the process of upward mobility. By observing certain symbolic actions, which are ritually accepted as pure and high, the Telikis tried to sustain their identity. /// Les conceptions orientalistes qui présentent les structures sociales pré-coloniales en Inde comme des formations immuables sont actuellement révisées. De nouvelles études avancent que la mobilité sociale existe dans le contexte de structures de caste. Fondé sur l'exploitation de sources épigraphiques, littéraires et des kulapurāṇa (les mythes de caste) portant sur la communauté des producteurs d'huile au Moyen Age connue sous le nom de caste Teliki, cet article met en lumière des tendances vers une amélioration du rang social du śūdra varṇa au kṣatriya varṇa. Dans le cas des communautés de paysans-guerriers (sat śūdras), les brahmanes et dans celui des communautés tribales, les temples/les dirigeants sectaires assuraient la légitimité. Toutefois, dans le cas des Telikis, une communauté asat/śūdra, les pouvoirs politiques facilitaient un processus d'ascension sociale. De plus, les Telikis, en observant certains actes symboliques considérés rituellement comme purs et élevés, tentaient de maintenir leur identité.
ISSN:0022-4995
1568-5209
0022-4995
DOI:10.1163/156852001753731024