Writing India: Colonial Ethnography in the Nineteenth Century

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Bringing together a wealth of archival documents from later nineteenth century, this book presents ethnographic notes on a variety of communities like Brahmans, Rajputs, Sikhs, Garhwalis, Muhammadens, and Dogras. They provide comprehensive information about their everyday lives; geographical distribution; physical and linguistic attributes; myths and genealogies; customs and traditions; religious and social observances; and livelihood patterns. Written by administrators, ethnographers, army officials, travellers, these documents are carefully edited and annotated by Mushirul Hasan. His introduction locates these communities in the larger context of imperial ideologies and ethnographic debates around late-nineteenth-early twentieth century India. This book will interest researchers, students, and scholars of modern Indian history, sociology, and anthropology. Special Features: Unpublished ethnographic archival material. First-hand accounts of many marginal communities. Table of Contents: Introduction 1. Notes on Rajputs by Captain W.J. Newell 2. Notes on Rajputana Rajputs by Captain W. Prior 3. Introduction to the Notes of Brahmanism and Hinduism by Captain W.J. Newell 4. Notes on Brahmans by Captain W.J. Newell 5. Notes on the Hindu Religion by Captain W.J. Newell 6. Memorandum on Sikhs by Captain R.T. Crowther 7. Memorandum on Garhwalis 8. Notes on Hindustani Muhammadans by Captain F.G.R. Ostrehan 9. Notes on Punjabi Muhammadans by Captain A. Hamilton 10. Notes on Dogras by Captain K.P. Burne