Caste, Occupation and Politics on the Ganges

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Focusing on the boatmen of Banaras, this anthropological study explores their strategic repositioning within traditional social hierarchies and their efforts to challenge upper-caste and state authority. Assa Doron delves into the community's evolution, utilizing diverse sources to reveal the intricate cultural politics surrounding social and economic inequality in modern India. The work highlights the boatmen's unique role on the river as both a privilege and a means of contestation.