Work, Ritual, Biography: A Muslim Community in North India - Hardcover

Mehta, Deepak

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0195640217 ISBN 13: 9780195640212

Publisher: OUP India, 1997

Synopsis

This book provides an ethnographic account of a community of Muslim weavers in north India. It analyses the place of weaving in the Ansari social structure, the work of Ansari women as quilt makers, the ritual of circumcision and the biography of an Ansari individual. These domains are linked in the manner in which the Ansaris represent the body and how in turn these representations reconstitute the body.

About this title

Review

... a rich portrait of meanings associated with Ansari work and ritual ... a valuable study. (The Journal of Asian Studies)

... a highly specialized book ... containing findings of considerable significance ... Clearly, Mehta's access to the Ansari community was remarkable. (The Journal of Asian Studies)

Work, Ritual, Biography provides a fascinating account of a community of Muslim weavers ... the book is anchored firmly in the sociology camp ... considering the richness of the material, it is a pity that this study was not published sooner. (Bulletin of the SOAS)

Synopsis

This text provides an ethnographic account of a community of Muslim weavers in north India. It analyzes the place of weaving in the Ansari social structure, the work of Ansari women as quilt makers, the ritual of circumcision and the biography of an Ansari individual. These domains are linked in the manner in which the Ansaris represent the body and how in turn these representations reconstitute the body. It is intended for researchers in the disciplines of social anthropology, sociology, sociology of religion and cultural studies.

Edition details

• Publisher: OUP India
• Publication date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0195640217
• ISBN 13: 9780195640212
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 294