We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
THE UNTOUCHABLE CLASSES OF AN INDIAN CITY.
- Authors
Mann, Harold H.
- Abstract
This article examines the organization of untouchable castes of the Hindu population in India. In the organisation of society among the Hindu population of India, there is perhaps no feature more interesting than the existence of a large proportion of the people contact with whom means ceremonial impurity to the other Hindus, and yet remain, as they have done for many generations, a necessary part of the scheme of society. The existence of such a class is, of course, not peculiar to India, but its origin elsewhere can generally be traced with fair clearness, and its continuance is a matter of comparatively short duration. The castes recognised as untouchable in the Deccan are five in number. The caste of Mahars is by far the largest. Its members, though impure, have definite duties in the villages. They erect the tents of strangers and they have the duty of removing and disposing of dead cattle and other animals. The others caste which is commonly found in every village in Deccan is that of the Mangs. Their position and status are much more difficult to define, as a class they have no land, and they have no stated duties. The caste is essentially, therefore, a trading group, almost the whole thing being engaged in their occupation.
- Subjects
INDIA; INDIC castes; SOCIAL classes; MAHARS; BRAHMANISM; HINDUISM; MANNERS &; customs
- Publication
Sociological Review (1908-1952), 1912, Vol a5, Issue 1, p42
- ISSN
0038-0261
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1467-954x.1912.tb02590.x