Nomadism is an ancient and universal phenomenon. Since the beginning of mankind there have been nomads in all the countries. There are many kinds of nomadic communities in the world. Among them, the artisan nomads occupy an important place. Each of them have their typical sort of quasi-nomadic mode of life, economy, social life, unique code of work ethics and culture. The present book is a comprehensive sociological research study of one such artisan nomadic community of India. The subject of this study is the community of the nomadic blacksmiths of India’s Rajasthan State who trace their origin from the upper Rajput Caste and from the times of the Mughal emperor Akbar’s attack on the famous Chittorgarh Fort of Rajasthan over four decades book. Dejected by the defeat of the ruler of Chittorgarh, these patriots decided to become nomads, adopt blacksmithy as their profession, and not to return to their original place, the famous Rajput Fort of Chittorgarh, till it required independence. During the last 450 years or so, they have thus emerged as a distinct kind of artisan nomad. This is an interesting case of an upper caste becoming a backward community which still retains its proud culture traditions, fragrant rustic folklore and a well-regulated economic mode and work-ethics. Despite the vicissitudes of life all through the last four and half centuries, they have preserved their dignity and morals and have not allowed social disorganization creep in to their community life. The government efforts to sedentaeise them failed miserably and they did not like to reap the fruits of national freedom and democracy being shroude in ignorance and poverty. Their folklore reveals how bold and free is their spirit as a nomad even now. This happy interesting book throws up a number of challenging questions before sociologists planners, socialists, anthropologists and folk-lorists.
There are no reviews yet.