Untouchable Pasts: Religion, Identity, and Power Among a Central Indian Community, 1780-1950

620 Pages·1998·1.78 MB·English

by  Saurabh Dube

Untouchable Pasts : Religion, Identity, and
title: Power Among a Central Indian Community,
1780-1950 SUNY Series in Hindu Studies
author: Dube, Saurabh.
publisher: State University of New York Press
isbn10 | asin: 0791436888
print isbn13: 9780791436882
ebook isbn13: 9780585089898
language: English
Satnamis--India--Chattisagarh--History,
Chattisagarh (India)--Social conditions,
subject Chattisagarh (India)--Economic conditions,
Chattisagarh (India)--Religious life and
customs.
publication date: 1998
lcc: DS432.S359D834 1998eb
ddc: 954/.3
Satnamis--India--Chattisagarh--History,
Chattisagarh (India)--Social conditions,
subject: Chattisagarh (India)--Economic conditions,
Chattisagarh (India)--Religious life and
customs.
Page i
Untouchable Pasts
Page ii
SUNY S H S
ERIES IN INDU TUDIES
Wendy Doniger, editor
Page iii
Untouchable Pasts
Religion, Identity, and Power among a Central Indian
Community, 1780-1950
Saurabh Dube
State University of New York Press
Page iv
Cover Photo: Satnami mother and daughter, circa 1898. Source: J. J.
Lohr,
Bilder aus Chhattisgarh und den Central Provinzen Ostindiens
(1899).
Published by
State University of New York Press, Albany
© 1998 State University of New York
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Dube, Saurabh.
Untouchable pasts: religion, identity, and power among a central
Indian community, 17801950 / Saurabh Dube.
p. cm. (SUNY series in Hindu studies)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 079143687X (alk. paper). ISBN 079143688-8 (pbk.:
alk. paper)
1. Satnamis
* IndiaChattisagarh* History. 2. Chattisagarh
(India)Social conditions. 3. Chattisagarh (India)Economic
conditions. 4. Chattisagarh (India)Religious life and customs.
I. Title. II. Series
DS432.S359D834 1998
954'.3dc21 9749929
CIP
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Page v
S. C. Dube (19221996),
Anthropologist and Parent
Page vii
Vespasia stood up and walked over toward the window. "I thought it was the
question as to whether some men have the right to make mock of other men's
gods, because they believe them to be either vicious or absurdor simply
irrelevant." "One has the right to question them," Charlotte said with
irritation. "One must, or there will be no progress of ideas, no reforming. The
most senseless ideologies cou ld be taught, and if we cannot challenge them,
how are we to know whether they are good or evil? How can we test our ideas
except by thinkingand talking." "We cannot," Vespasia replied. "But there are
many ways of doing it. And we must take responsibility for what we destroy, as
well as for what we create.''
Ann Perry, Highgate Rise: A Victorian Mystery Featuring Charlotte and
Inspector Thomas Pitt
Page ix
Contents
Preface xi
List of Abbreviations xvii
Chapter One 1
Introduction
Chapter Two 25
The Making of Satnampanth, 17801850
Chapter Three 47
Malguzars, Gurus, and Missionaries, 18501900
Chapter Four 79
Satnamis in Village Life, 19001950
Chapter Five 115
A Contested Past: The Myths of Satnampanth
Chapter Six 145
Reform and Authority: The Satnami Mahasabha,
19251950
Chapter Seven 183
Contending Histories: Old Stories and New Pasts
Chapter Eight 207
Conclusion
Appendix 1: 223
Genealogy of Satnami Gurus, Four Generations
Appendix 2: 224
Population of Satnamis, 19011931