Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of Figures
- List of Abbreviations
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- A Note on Translation and Transliteration
- Map
- Introduction
- 1 Domesticating the Ganga Boatmen
- 2 Stepsons of the State: Marginalization and the Struggle for Recognition
- 3 The Moral Economy of Boating: Territorial Clashes and Internal Struggles
- 4 River Crossings: Boatmen, Priests and the Ritual Economy of Banaras
- 5 The Romance of Banaras: Boatmen, Pilgrims and Tourists
- Conclusion: Covert Resistance and Collective Action
- Glossary
- Bibliography
- Index
2 - Stepsons of the State: Marginalization and the Struggle for Recognition
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 May 2013
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of Figures
- List of Abbreviations
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- A Note on Translation and Transliteration
- Map
- Introduction
- 1 Domesticating the Ganga Boatmen
- 2 Stepsons of the State: Marginalization and the Struggle for Recognition
- 3 The Moral Economy of Boating: Territorial Clashes and Internal Struggles
- 4 River Crossings: Boatmen, Priests and the Ritual Economy of Banaras
- 5 The Romance of Banaras: Boatmen, Pilgrims and Tourists
- Conclusion: Covert Resistance and Collective Action
- Glossary
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
Nishad Samaj is a massive community, which has always made sacrifices to safeguard the Nation. History is the witness that civilisation and culture originated and developed from the valleys and rivers. This means that the Nishads have been the creators of civilisation and culture. The Nishad community has contributed to India by making it prosperous through trade, water transport and international relations. The Nishads have played an important role in the freedom struggle and continue their work of saving lives during devastating floods. They remain the vigilant guards of the Nation and true servants of society… after independence it was expected that the Nishads would receive justice and equal opportunities to develop, but this did not happen. In this democracy the agricultural farmers are secure and stable, becoming officers [of the state] while the water farmers (jal karsak), the Nishads, are deprived of their ancestral rights and traditional professions. And through the auction of these professions a handful of people are exploiting them, making money….Is this not a black spot on democracy? This black spot needs to be wiped out….
—Boatman's Association, Handbill, 1979For people who were marginalized and dispossessed under colonial rule, Independence brought new hopes of occupational opportunities and restoration of their rights over natural resources. The modern Indian state was premised upon the democratic ideals of social justice, universal rule of law and the constitutional granting of rights to all its citizens.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Life on the GangaBoatmen and the Ritual Economy of Banaras, pp. 57 - 96Publisher: Foundation BooksPrint publication year: 2013