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Bengali society does not belong only to the upper castes; it equally belongs to the entire spectrum of lower-caste communities as well—yet this understanding has largely remained u…
Bengali society does not belong only to the upper castes; it equally belongs to the entire spectrum of lower-caste communities as well—yet this understanding has largely remained unexamined in social discourse. Among these Dalit communities are the Matua Namasudras, devotees immersed in the chanting of Harinaam, free from rigid caste hierarchies and orthodoxy. A different historical trajectory emerges when they challenge the dominant notion of the bhadralok renaissance through their own movements. In this book, the author analyzes the social, political, and cultural history of the Matuas spread across both Bengals in eight chapters. The extensive use of data and primary sources is sure to provoke thoughtful reflection among readers.
