Witchcraft Accusations from Central India
Witchcraft Accusations from Central India

Author: Helen Macdonald

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Published: 2020-11-22

Total Pages: 292

ISBN-13: 1000225712

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This book unravels the institutions surrounding witchcraft in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh through theoretical and empirical research on witchcraft, violence and modernity in contemporary times. The author pieces together ‘fragments’ of stories gathered utilising ethnographic methods to examine the meanings associated with witches and witchcraft, and how they connect with social relations, gender, notions of agency, law, media and the state. The volume uses the metaphor of the shattered urn to tell the story of the accusations, punishment, rescue and the aftermath of the events of the trial of women accused of being witches. It situates the ṭonhī or witch as a key elaborating symbol that orders behaviour to determine who the socially included and excluded are in communities. Through the personal interviews and other ethnographic methods conducted over the course of many years, the author delves into the stories and practices related to witchcraft, its relations with modernity, and the relationship between violence and ideological norms in society. Insightful and detailed, this book will be of great interest to academics and researchers of anthropology, development studies, sociology, history, violence, gender studies, tribal studies and psychology. It will also be useful for readers in both historic and contemporary witchcraft practices as well as policy makers.

Untouchable Pasts
Untouchable Pasts

Author: Saurabh Dube

Publisher: SUNY Press

Published: 1998-01-01

Total Pages: 330

ISBN-13: 9780791436875

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Constructs a history of an untouchable and heretical community, the Satnamis of Central India.

Fertility and Family Planning in Primitive Tribes
Fertility and Family Planning in Primitive Tribes

Author: G. D. Pandey

Publisher:

Published: 2002

Total Pages: 360

ISBN-13:

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Out Of 52 Primitive Tribes Of The Country 7 Are Located In The Undivided Madhya Pradesh. These Tribes Lives In Undulating Hilly Terrains And Dense Forests Far From Modern Amenities. Lack Of Awareness, Ignorance, Illiteracy And Poverty Altogether Have Affected The Lives Of These Tribals. Though, They Have Been Put Into One Category Primitive Tribes Yet Each Of Them Is At Different Level Of Development, Are Socially And Culturally Distinct And Facing Different Kinds Of Problems. One Of The Problems In These Tribes Has Been Stagnant Or Diminishing Population Growth. Excepting A Few Attempts By The Anthropologists No Study On Their Socio-Demographic Characteristics Have Been Done. Moreover The Background Data On Which These Tribes Have Been Categorized Is Not Based On Empirical Data. It Is Surprising As To How In Absence Of Basic Socio-Demographic Indicators, How The Government Is Monitoring Its Development Programmes Which Are Being Carried Out For These Tribes. The Author Has Personally Visited These Tribes And Has Collected Quantitative As Well As Qualitative Data From For Primitive Tribes-Bharias, Birhors, Hill Korwas And Kamars. The Data Analysed In The Book Have Revealed That The Primitive Tribes Have Low Fertility And High Mortality Levels-A Unique Characteristic. Moreover Inspite Of Ban On Sterilization Operations, About One Third Of The Couples Have Been Found Sterilized And In Case Of About One Seventh Couples Both Of The Partners Have Been Operated Upon. The Book Presents Pitiable State Of Affairs In These Communities And Government S Non-Sincere Efforts For Their Development