Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 7 of 7

"Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 7 of 7" by Edgar Thurston is a scientific publication written in the early 20th century. This volume, which is part of a comprehensive exploration of the various castes and tribes in Southern India, delves into the multiple social, cultural, and occupational divisions present within the diverse communities of the region. The work is likely to be of interest to readers looking to understand the intricate social structures and practices of Indian society during that time. The opening of this volume begins with a list of castes and sub-sects followed by detailed descriptions of various groups, such as the Aiyarakulu, Kammalans, and many others. Each entry provides a brief overview of the caste or tribe's name, its traditional occupations, hierarchical status, and significant cultural practices or ceremonies that define its identity. Through these entries, Thurston presents a meticulous catalog of the socio-cultural landscape, emphasizing how each group navigates its duties, traditions, and interactions with others in the broader Indian social fabric. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Edgar Thurston was the British Superintendent at the Madras Government Museum from 1885 to 1908 who contributed to research studies in the fields of zoology, ethnology and botany of India, and later also published his works at the museum. Thurston was educated in medicine and lectured in anatomy at the Madras Medical College while simultaneously holding a senior position at the museum. His early works were on numismatics and geology, and these were later followed by researches in anthropology and ethnography. He succeeded Frederick S. Mullaly as the Superintendent of Ethnography for the Madras Presidency.