CASTES AND TRIBES OF SOUTHERN INDIA

EDGAR THURSTON, C.I.E.,

Superintendent, Madras Government Museum; Correspondant E’tranger,

Société d'Anthropologie de Paris ; Socio Corrispondante,

Societa Romana di Anthropologia.

ASSISTED BY

K. RANGACHARI, M.A, of the Madras Government Museum.

VOLUME I—A and B

First published in 1909

With commentary by

VED from VICTORIA INSTITUTIONS

VICTORIA INSTITUTIONS

Aaradhana, DEVERKOVIL 673508 India

www.victoriainstitutions.com

admn@ victoriainstitutions.com

Telegram: https://t.me/VICTORIA_INSTITUTIONS

Please note: ‘Castes and Tribes of Southern India' is in the public domain. However, the Commentary written by VED from VICTORIA INSTITUTIONS is not.

This is Volume One of Edgar Thurston’s CASTES AND TRIBES OF SOUTHERN INDIA.

In this book, Thurston has attempted to list out the various castes and tribes of the southern parts of the South Asian Subcontinent.

The various attributes of the various castes and tribes, including their family systems, customs, traditional vocation, spiritual beliefs, rituals, death ceremonies, position in the social hierarchy and such other things are delineated in this book.

In the case of some of the castes, very detailed descriptions can be found.

The Commentary given by VED from VICTORIA INSTITUTIONS aims to position this book’s actual merits and also to point out certain deficiencies in the general outlook.

The book is great. It was a pioneering attempt at understanding ethnographic differences inside the South Asian subcontinent. However, the most powerful factor that actually influences ethnographic differences in closely connected populations has not been mentioned or detected. This most powerful factor is the verbal codes in the native feudal languages, and the exact position of a caste or tribe or individual inside these languages.

As of now, a few newly emerged buffoons sitting inside the cosy ambiences of native-English nations have tried to decry the great endeavour of Edgar Thurston. They do not know much and do not understand anything. Even the term ‘feudal language’ would simply pass through their brain, without connecting to anything inside it.

Some other native jokers have added another individual’s name also as the author to this book. That is from the platform of a lowly jingoist aspiration of a population which has nothing on its own to showcase.

Another clown has had the daring to mention that Thurston’s writings are bereft of merit because he was a ‘British colonial official’.