Caste and Lineage in Colonial Calcutta: : The Subarnabanik Ancestry of the Seals and the Laws (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9789371794886)

Caste and Lineage in Colonial Calcutta provides an in-depth study of the Subarnabanik caste in Bengal. It delves into the myths, legends and historical origins of the Subarnabaniks and traces how they rose to prominence in the commercial world of mid-nineteenth to early twentieth-century Calcutta. The dichotomy of being low in the caste hierarchy yet financially well-positioned and business-minded greatly shaped the ethos and outlook of this caste. With a focus on two prominent businessmen, Mutty Lall Seal (1792-1854) and Prawn Kissen Law (1790-1853) and their families, this work also explores the role of Subarnabanik women in this milieu. The book juxtaposes archival sources with oral narratives and memories to share unique insights into the world of the Subarnabaniks, tracing linkages of caste, commerce and kinship.