Author: Eleanor Zilliot
Publisher: Manohar
Year: 2005
Language: English
Pages: 350
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8173041431
Description
Eleanor Zelliot’s interest in Babasaheb Ambedkar and his movement goes back to her graduate student days when she was preparing for her PhD thesis. In the early sixties, she first spent an year and a half in India gathering material on Dr Ambedkar. Her study took her further in the field and back into the history of Maharashtra trying to find out the roots of this most unusual movement among the untouchables.
Eleanor Zelliot has now gathered the product of some thirty years of her scholarship on the social, political and religious movement of Untouchables led by Dr B R Ambedkar into one volume. This collection of essays spans the history of the movement from its nineteenth century roots to the most recent development of Dalit literature, and includes the political developments and the Buddhist conversion.
In all 16 essays are collected in the volume. They are thematically divided into four different parts, viz, background, politics, religion and Dalit literature. An essential reading for those interested in understanding contemporary India.
Contents
INTRODUCTION TO THE THIRD EDITION
INTRODUCTION TO THE SECOND EDITION
INTRODUCTION TO THE FIRST EDITION
BACKGROUND
Chokhamela and Eknath: Two Bhakti Modes of Legitimacy for Modern Change
The Nineteenth Century Background of the Mahar and Non-Brahman Movements in Maharashtra
POLITICS
The Leadership of Babasaheb Ambedkar
The American Experience of Dr B R Ambedkar
Learning the Use of Political Means: The Mahars of Maharashtra
Buddhism and Politics in Maharashtra
Gandhi and Ambedkar: A Study in Leadership
Addendum to Part II
RELIGION
The Revival of Buddhism in India
Religion and Legitimization in the Mahar Movement
The Psychological Dimension of the Buddhist Conversion
Tradition and Innovation in Contemporary Indian
Buddhism: Activities and Observances
Buddhist Sects in Contemporary India: Identity and Organization
The Buddhist Literature of modern Maharashtra
ADDENDUM TO PART III
Dalit Literature
Dalit-New Cultural Context for an Old Marathi World
India’s Ex-Untouchables: New Past, New Future and the new Poetry
The Folklore of Pride: Three Components of Contemporary Dalit Belief
ADDENDUM TO PART IV
Select Bibliography (see also Addendum to Sections II, III, IV, and each chapter of I)
INDEX