Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 6 of 7

"Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 6 of 7" by Edgar Thurston is an anthropological study written in the early 20th century. This volume focuses on the various castes and tribes found in Southern India, particularly discussing their origins, social practices, and cultural significance. It elaborates on the Palli or Vanniyan caste, emphasizing their historical claims of royal lineage, rituals, and the socio-political dynamics they navigate within the broader context of Indian caste structure. The opening of this volume provides a detailed examination of the Palli or Vanniyan caste, tracing their historical claims to nobility and royal ancestry. It discusses the caste's attempts to assert their social standing by aligning themselves with Kshatriya traditions, including their rich ceremonial practices surrounding marriage and worship, particularly related to deities from the Mahabharata. The text references various historical documents, attempts at social reclassification, and the evolution of their societal roles from erstwhile rulers to agricultural laborers. This intricate portrayal sets the stage for deeper exploration of caste dynamics and rituals throughout the volume. (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.