000			01633cam a2200157 i 4500
020			_a9789386552556
082			_a305.800954 _bVIV/C
100	1		_aVivekanand Jha
245	1	0	_aCaṇḍāla :untouchability and caste in early India
260			_aDelhi _bPrimus _c2018
300			_axiv, 242p.
520			_aThis volume is a collection of essays on untouchability written by Professor Jha at various points of his long and illustrious career. It dwells on the manner in which social stratification in ancient India developed to exclude castes like Caṇḍalas and Niṣadas, leading to their exploitation and sub-human treatment. The book begins with tracing the origin and condition of Caṇḍalas (1000 BC to AD 600), who were first mentioned in later Vedic literature (1000 to 600 BC) at the Purushamedha (symbolic human sacrifice) dedicated to deity Vayu. Another essay examines the acculturation of the Niṣadas—who were mainly fishermen and hunters by profession— which started from the Later Vedic Period. Caṇḍalas and Niṣadas were both over time assimilated into the Brahmanical caste structure as degraded shudras and ultimately relegated to being untouchables. The book also examines the Bhagavadgita and Asoka’s Dhaṃma from the perspective of caste and untouchability. It provides key insights into the origin and growth of the caste system, especially untouchability, extending beyond the brahmanical lens. It is a valuable addition to the study of early Indian social history and social structures.
650		0	_aCaṇḍālas
650		0	_aCaste _aSocial conditions-India _auntouchability
942			_cBK
999			_c60476 _d60476