Author Description

Product DescriptionThis book provides a radical alternative to prevailing theories of caste which either build on indigenous rationalizations of the Brahman's supremacy or reduce hierarchy to material factors. Drawing on a wide range of historical and ethnographic sources as well as four years' fieldwork, Declan Quigley proposes a comparative approach which locates caste-organized communities in the context of complex agrarian societies generally. At the heart of caste, he argues, there is a tension between the centralizing forces of kingship, with its associated ritual, and decentralizing forces of kinship. Dr Quigley believes that it is this tension, rather than Brahminincal ideology, which generates the characteristic patterns of hierarchy and the preoccupation with purity and pollution. In making kingship central to the explanation of caste proposed by A M Hocart over half a century ago, and offers an elegant and wide-ranging comparative interpretation of facts which have until now eluded satisfactory explanation.Review`Quigley is particularly good at showing why the Brahmins are not a homogeneous category... Quigley's is a perceptive and most welcome book.' Bhikhu Parekh, Times Higher Education Supplement'This work is a readable and interesting analysis of a complex and largely theoretical debate... this is a valuable book on the subject of caste and should be of interest to anthropologists in general, as well as those with a particular interest in the Indian sub-continent.' Rosanne Cecil, The Queen's University of Belfast, Anthropology Ireland, Spring '93'This is, quite simply, an excellent book on caste: refined enough for the specialist, robust and clear enough for the generalist. This book will set the empirical cat amongst the theoretical pigeons. The wider ramifications of this work are important too - regarding the origins of caste, Quigley may be closer to Inden than he imagines, and I look forward to seeing more of Quigley's thoughts on Inden's work in the future.' Vernon Hewitt, Asian Affairs, February 1994`fascinating work on caste... Quigley provides a sustained critique of both the conventional wisdom on caste and Louis Dumont's influential work Homo Hierarchicus' Indian Review of Books'His polemic is designed to stimulate controversy and should succeed.' Anthony Good, Current Anthropology, Volume 34, Number 5, December 1993'Quigley's book is the best word we have on the subject.' Subhash Kak, The Times of India Sunday Review, December 1993`The Interpretation of Caste gives a clear and concise account of the general kind of problems presented by previous theories on caste. It serves as a useful introductory textbook - probably the first of its kind - and in this sense it is a valuable contribution in the field of South Asian studies and anthropology in particular.' The Developing Economies`Very well written.' Asian Affairs`often ingeniously argued and productive of insights' --Robert Parkin, Journal of the An ological SocietyAbout the AuthorDeclan Quigley is at University of St Andrews.