Caste, Marginalisation and Resistance: The Politics of Identity of the Naths (Yogis) of Bengal and Assam

Half Title
Series Information
Title Page
Copyright Page
Contents
Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgements
Tables
Abbreviations
Chapter 1 Introduction: Why the Study of the Naths of Bengal and Assam Is Pertinent
	1 Locating the Problem
	2 Rationale of This Study
		2.1 Why This Study Is Necessary
		2.2 Why the Naths Are So Far Neglected in Academic or Non-academic Discussions
		2.3 Why the Naths of Bengal and Assam Are Studied Here Together
	3 Thematic Outline: Lived Experience and Theorisation from Inside
		3.1 Whether Lived Experience or Theory
		3.2 Representing the Naths through Lived Experience and Theorisation from Inside
	4 A Brief Overview of the Chapters
Chapter 2 The Naths (Yogis): Identity, Formation of Caste in Bengal and Assam, and Their Marginalisation
	1 Introduction
	2 Antiquity of the Naths
	3 The Naths in Bengal and Assam: Early Phases
	4 The Identity of the Naths: a Religious Sect or a Caste?
	5 Marginalisation and the Naths of Bengal and Assam
	6 Conclusion
Chapter 3 Caste Status and Resistance of the Naths of Bengal: Pre-colonial to Post-colonial Times
	1 Introduction
	2 The Naths of Bengal: Are They Native or Came from Outside?
	3 Status after Marginalisation: during the Pre-colonial and Early-Colonial Period
	4 Status in the Colonial Period and Role of the Caste Associations
		4.1 A Brief Caste Profile during the Colonial Period
		4.2 Bargaining and Negotiations within and Outside
		4.3 Status after the Formation of Associations and Their Negotiations during Different Census Operations
	5 Status in the Post-colonial Period and Role of the Caste Associations
	6 Observation from the Fields
Chapter 4 Caste Status and Resistance of the Naths of Assam: Pre-colonial to Post-colonial Times
	1 Introduction
	2 The Naths of the Brahmaputra Valley
	3 The Naths of the Barak Valley
	4 Status of the Naths of Assam in the Colonial Period and Their Identity Assertion
		4.1 A Brief Caste Profile
		4.2 Caste Name and Appellation
		4.3 Controversy on Scheduled Caste or Depressed Caste Status
	5 Status of the Naths of Assam in the Post-colonial Period
		5.1 Controversy on the obc Status
	6 The Role of the Caste Associations
	7 The Nath-Yogi Development Council and Recent Controversy
	8 Observation from the Fields
Chapter 5 Socio-economic Status of the Naths of West Bengal and Assam: A Present-Day Comparative Study
	1 Introduction
	2 Caste Specificity of the Naths of West Bengal and Assam
	3 Possession of the obc Certificate and Attitude towards It
	4 Economic Profile of the Naths of West Bengal and Assam
	5 Educational Profile of the Naths of West Bengal and Assam
	6 Observation
Chapter 6 Mainstream Politics and the Naths of West Bengal and Assam: Assessing the Nature of Politicisation
	1 Introduction
	2 The Nath-Yogis and the States: Chronicles from Antiquity
		2.1 The Nath-Yogis and Hindu Nationalism
	3 Attitude of the Naths of West Bengal and Assam towards the Politicisation: Assessing the Present
	4 The Nature of Politicisation of the Naths
		4.1 The Naths of West Bengal in Mainstream Politics
		4.2 The Naths of Assam in Mainstream Politics
	5 Observations
	6 Conclusion
Chapter 7 Caste, Marginalisation, and the Politics of Identity of the Naths of Bengal and Assam: Search for a Pattern
	1 Introduction
	2 The Politics of Identity, Caste, and Marginality
		2.1 The Politics of Identity and the Nath Question
		2.2 Caste, Census, and the Nath Question
		2.3 Perspectives of Caste and the Naths
		2.4 Why Ambedkarite Caste Politics Is Not Applicable to the Naths
	3 The Politics of Exclusion and the Naths of West Bengal and Assam
		3.1 Exclusion during the Early-Medieval Period
		3.2 Exclusion during the Colonial Period
		3.3 Exclusion in Contemporary Times
	4 The Past Constituting the Present
Chapter 8 Some Tentative Concluding Observations
	1 Summing Up
	2 Justifying the Research Objectives
	3 Perspectives to Study the Nath Identity
		3.1 Historical Perspective
		3.2 Ideological Perspective
		3.3 Institutionalist Perspective
		3.4 Constructivist Perspective
		3.5 Instrumentalist Perspective
		3.6 Power Discourse Perspective
	4 Some Critical Theoretical Analysis
	5 Final Words
Bibliography
Index