Tab Article

Ratings: ★★★★☆ (4.3/5)
Genre: Sociology, Anthropology, Social Sciences, Academic

Book Review:
Professor Daya Amarasekera's ''Caste and Social Change'' is a significant and insightful contribution to the sociological study of one of South Asia's most enduring and complex social institutions. Written by a leading Sri Lankan sociologist, this book offers a detailed ethnographic study of caste dynamics in rural central India, examining how this ancient system of social stratification adapts and persists in the face of modern social change.

Amarasekera, a Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Peradeniya, brings a lifetime of scholarly expertise to the subject. He is widely known in Sri Lanka for his extensive body of work in Sinhala on sociological and anthropological themes. This English-language publication serves to introduce his sharp analytical skills and deep understanding of social structures to a wider audience.

The book's core strength lies in its grounded, empirical approach. It moves beyond abstract theorizing to explore how caste actually operates in the everyday lives of people in village communities. Amarasekera pays particular attention to the ''depressed castes,'' examining their changing status, their struggles for dignity and opportunity, and the subtle and not-so-subtle ways in which caste hierarchies are challenged and reinforced. He explores the intersection of caste with economic change, political mobilization, and cultural transformation.

As Professor B.A. Teynson Perera notes in his introduction, this study is a commendable effort that addresses a major theme of contemporary anthropological research. ''Caste and Social Change'' is an important resource for students and scholars of sociology, anthropology, and South Asian studies. It provides a nuanced and locally-grounded perspective on a force that, while often invisible, continues to shape social relationships in profound ways.