Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 5 of 7

Name: Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 5 of 7
Author: Edgar Thurston

By Edgar Thurston

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About This Book

A systematic ethnographic survey of communities with names in the M–P range, offering concise entries on origins, social organization, marriage and funerary rites, religious practices, and customary law. The text documents occupational roles, trade and craft activities, and everyday material culture including clothing, jewelry, houses, and festival rituals. Accounts combine official census reports, museum records, and local informants, and preserve local legends, tomb lore, and ritual performance. Numerous photographs and drawings illustrate dwellings, objects, and ceremonial scenes to support the descriptive accounts.

About the Author

Edgar Thurston

Edgar Thurston was a British ethnographer and civil servant known for his extensive work on the social structure of Southern India. His most notable contribution is the multi-volume series "Castes and Tribes of Southern India," which provides a comprehensive examination of the diverse communities in the region, detailing their customs, traditions, and social hierarchies. In addition to this seminal work, he also authored "Omens and Superstitions of Southern India," which explores the cultural beliefs and practices surrounding omens in the local context. Thurston's research has been influential in the fields of anthropology and sociology, offering valuable insights into the complexities of Indian society.