Dhobis of Delhi

An illuminating contribution to the study of cities and margins worldwide, the anthropology of South Asia, caste, or class, this book is an eye-opening exploration of choices people make to identify themselves with particular social movements, advocacy groups, and political ideologies. The product of many years of ethnographic engagement, this work is both about Delhi and a small community in the city--a group of 'untouchables' who have chosen not to join the Dalit movement or identify as Dalit. How the modern city affects the Dhobi becomes clear in Channa's work, something both engrossing and humanistic. I can think of no one as knowledgeable and insightful as she is in this book. * Virginia R. Dominguez, Edward William and Jane Marr Gutgsell Professor of Anthropology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Consulting Director and Co-Founder, International Forum for U.S. Studies *
This book stands as an exemplary model of ethnography, showcasing breadth, depth, and a richness of prisms that delve into various faces of the lives and social structures of Dhobis in Delhi. Channa's profound rapport with and insightful observation of the people over several decades have enabled the portrayal of Dhobis not merely as victims of the caste system, but as active agents who adeptly navigate their lives and assert their identities, striving for equality in the larger society. This book offers valuable insights not only for those seeking a better understanding of the contemporary life of Dalits in India but also for those interested in conducting fieldwork, holistic community observation, and coherent yet multi-perspective and nuanced ethnography. * Yasuko Takezawa, Professor, Intercultural Research Institute, Kansai Gaidai University; Professor Emeritus, Kyoto University *
Channa's book is a much-needed contribution to the resurging debate on caste. Whether as an analogy for racial oppression or as an axis of discrimination and counter-discrimination in South Asia and diasporic contexts, there is need for nuanced perspectives on community life, identities, and strategies for navigating the complex urban environment. This ethnography deconstructs the embodied experiences, practices, and meanings of caste, especially from the vantage of the particular urban sites that the Dhobis navigate. The book illuminates a heterogeneous field where untouchables' collective identities and strategies of resilience do not all align with the politics and subjectivities of the Dalit movement and offers a cogent explanation as to why. * Faye V. Harrison, Professor of African American Studies and Anthropology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign *
In a world where third-world cities are louder than ever, Channa's diachronic study of a marginal group that has made silence part of its survival strategies is hugely welcome. Her eyes elicit changes in the urban space that only her wit combined with forty years of field experience allow her to see, such as the 'air conditioning' of (poor) homes or the growing commodification of small liminal neighbourhood spaces where people could wander around doing nothing. Tragically, in this city, especially for such groups of poor, physical intra- or extra-group socialization is becoming less accessible, even as digital socialization within and between groups offers new horizons. Channa´s circumscribed and detailed Delhi story provides many insights into urban anthropology, making this book of universal value. * Livio Sansone, Professor of Anthropology, Federal University of Bahia, Brazil *
Understanding how a community defines and locates itself through its experiential realities in a layered and diverse context is challenging. Unheard voices and invisible realities create a disconnect between the researcher and the research. In this commendable work, Channa, an eminent anthropologist, captures the community's lifeworld, aspirations, pain, and numerous explicit and implicit transitions with the changing city and how its embodiments in a self-reflective claim form a history. It delves deep to unravel the constructs ingrained in their collective memories and captures not just the voices but also the changes that have transpired. It is a must-read work to grasp how a community, with its resilience and viability against all odds, becomes a knowable entity in a larger framework of given space and time. * Badri Narayan, Director, G B Pant Social Science Institute *