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Bards, patrons and ancestors: myths, aspirations and predicaments of Dalit castes in Saurashtra, India
Get PDFDalit caste histories in India typically reveal contradictions within the Hindu ideology and its inherent disposition towards inequality. Dalit histories also carry a record of counterhegemonic interventions, spiritual emancipatory practices, and an alternative conception of the same cosmos that scripturally denies them human dignity, and in general, personhood. In the backdrop of this, my research asks the questions of what do history, belonging and place mean to Dalits in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, India? How does social hierarchy (within and outside of Dalit castes) interact with political and cultural hierarchies? And how does the caste identity permeate the regional identity? To address these questions, I first analyse genealogical and mythological narratives found in the manuscripts of ‘Vahivancha Barot’. They are writers and custodians of lineage histories of Dalit families in Saurashtra. I then supplement this analysis with an in-depth study of how genealogists work. How do they design and employ their techniques to continue preserving and evolving traditional form of writing lineage records in present times? And finally, I juxtapose these findings with my observations on the lifeworlds of Dalit families who live a somewhat double life: 1) as members of a certain lineage, recorded in their genealogist’s books with quasi-mythic qualities and 2) as members of a state recognised caste group with non-fictional qualities. The research benefits from a 10-month fieldwork in Rajkot and Junagadh districts conducted in 2020-21 and from a short 3-month research trip in 2024. This project is also a result of longterm personal engagement beginning in 2017. The research employs participant-observation, interviews, and auto-ethnographic methods to collect material and analyse data
Natural Capital as Economics Imperialism: History, Political Economy, and Ecological Critique
Get PDFMainstream economics is ill-equipped to deal with systemic crises such as climate change and biodiversity breakdown. Yet there is no shortage of approaches that extend neoclassical principles to nature-economy relations. One such approach is natural capital accounting, developed in environmental economics in response to escalating environmental crises in the 1980s and 1990s. For this critical analysis of the history, development, and practical application of natural capital, I draw on a combination of qualitative methods; a systematic literature review of more than 2000 academic publications on natural capital, the analysis of policy documents especially relating to the World Bank’s WAVES (Wealth Accounting and the Valuation of Ecosystem Services) programme, and semi-structured interviews with natural capital experts working in international development institutions and the private sector. I argue that the concept emerged as it did, when it did, because of economics imperialism, the tendency of neoclassical economics to take over new and different subject areas. This is evident in its formation as BBI (bringing back in) environmental concerns into economic analysis via capital as a conceptual framework, typical of economics imperialism in its second market-imperfection phase. From the onset, natural capital thus came with a reductionist understanding of ecological-economic relations with significant limitations for analysis of both the ecological and the economic. The concepts’ subsequent success in ecological economics points to the presence of economics imperialism even in a field that was established with the intention of breaking with the discipline’s neoclassical core. Due to its reliance on economics imperialism and poor representation of the systemic, natural capital and solutions derived from natural capital are liable to be inadequate in strength and direction in addressing the ongoing and escalating multiple environmental crises under capitalism. This has ramifications beyond the academy. The latter part of this dissertation thus discusses the limitations of natural capital in practice with special reference to the World Bank. Here, I demonstrate that initiatives to promote natural capital accounting have, over the years, been deployed within wider structures of development and financialization. In this sense, there is a significant impact that economics imperialism has had on the ‘real world’ and the management of real environmental crises, by providing natural capital as a framework. To the extent that it draws legitimacy from economics imperialism, natural capital and other environment-as-externality framings distract from systemic questions and play into discourses and ‘climate action’ that run counter to climate science
Are Ethics important in Yoga?
No full textWhile the yamas and niyamas of Patañjali do provide some starting points for a modernised and relevant discussion of ethics in yoga, it also raises the question of whether a discussion based on the sūtras is sufficient to produce a code of conduct that is fit for modern life, does not reproduce religious conservatism, and is in line with social and legal standards
The Corporation
No full textA TWAIL-inspired introduction to the corporation, a legal construct operating in the global political economy, at times an object and subject of international law. We describe how (metropolitan) corporations shaped early modern law, through their role in European ‘exploration’, plunder, and colonization of most of the Global South. We review some TWAIL (-aligned) writing on the corporation in the global political economy. We discuss the continuation of the corporation's historical role today facilitated through background rules. The example of OECD involvement in Turkish corporate governance reform illustrates international institutional intervention in Third World and so-called ‘Emerging Market’ economies in the service of Western capital, through the vehicle of the corporation. Finally, we outline various forms of resistance against such corporate neo- and recolonialization before concluding TWAIL scholars must expose the way background rules enable continued corporate colonialism and build alternative structures of ordering, production, and justice, from the ground up
Mustang at the Crossroads: on the Entanglement of Monastery Collections
No full textUndertaken since 2012, the documentation of monastery collections in Mustang, Nepal, reveals a broad range of interregional relationships. While these largely conform to the connections apparent in the political and religious history of the region, establishing them through objects found in the region makes them more concrete. The objects documented in Mustang not only account for interrelations between neighbors but also to the Kashmir region, northeast India, and the Chinese court. Further, they make clear that Mustang has to be understood as an artistic center in its own right which produced sculptures and manuscripts, partially of the highest quality
Accumulating Meanings, Transcending Borders: Appropriations and Transactions of “Hindu-Buddhist” Materials in Early Modern Indonesia
No full textThis thesis focuses on the afterlives of ancient materials in Indonesia, a project aiming to contribute to decolonising the field of Indonesian art history and archaeology.1 I pursue this essential purpose by adopting a specific local epistemological prism, kramat, to signify the diachronic perspective of sites whose topographical landscape functions as deposit of stories and mystical power. Through the conceptual work of kramat, I seek to consider how ancient materials carry renewed and renegotiated meanings for the local communities in later times. In so doing, this thesis aims to deconstruct the rigid categorisation opposing the “classical” period—encompassing the Hindu and Buddhist antiquities produced between the 4th and 15th centuries—and the subsequent Islamic artistic tradition from the 16th century onwards. Furthermore, meditative work through kramat intends to reconstruct the continuing lives of Indonesian ancient materials across times and cultures in probing appropriations, transaction, and reconfigurations. The accumulation of meanings and memories speak volumes about the (after)lives of Hindu and Buddhist materials, from their origins in ancient Indonesia to their transforming status as Islamic constructions in later times. In this context, this thesis argues that sacred sites accumulate localised narratives that persist and continue to be reactivated amidst different socio-cultural contexts, thus making propositions distinct from those commonly being reduplicated in museums and universities
Review of: Prohibition in Turkey: Alcohol and the Politics of Identity, By Emine Ö Evered
No full textNelson H. H. Graburn - a tribute collection
No full textThe academic world is shaped by individuals who challenge the status quo, confront obstacles, and inspire generations of scholars. Professor Nelson H.H. Graburn was one such scholar widely known for his groundbreaking contributions to the interdisciplinary field of tourism studies. His pioneering work has not only left an indelible mark on academic discourse but also fostered a vibrant community of scholars who continue to expand upon his foundational ideas. This collection of tributes serves as a heartfelt homage to Nelson’s profound influence and a dedication to his legacy through the reflections and experiences of those who were fortunate enough to learn from and be inspired by him
Jaina Mendicant Paraphernalia Warehouses
Get PDFProviding for small groups of mendicants roaming in the villages is relatively easy. However, the large entourages accompanying the ācāryas often pose challenges not only regarding the supply of food and drink but also items for daily use. These challenges are even more pronounced in major cities and at the pilgrimage centres of the mūrtipūjaka tradition. Monastic rules, which prohibit mendicants from requesting specific gifts or accepting specially produced items, further complicate the task of ensuring adequate provision. Additionally, from the perspective of householders, the spiraling cost of fulfilling these needs may become a concern. One solution was to permit the preparation of food for mendicants in general, who can visit dedicated places on their daily alms round. A similar approach was taken for providing access to sources of knowledge, such as manuscripts and books, which were made available through the creation of Jaina libraries either within upāśrayas or separately. Another key administrative innovation of recent decades, promoted by the mūrtipūjaka laity, is the creation of charities to fund central storehouses that supply essential paraphernalia free of charge for all (Śvetāmbara) Jaina mendicants. This report is about a new type of Jaina bhaṇḍāra – a storage facility or warehouse that is not used for commercial goods, or manuscripts, but for storing articles of daily use, utensils, clothes, etc., for Śvetāmbara mendicants. These institutions are relatively unknown and unexplored in academic scholarship
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