The Piramalai Kallar of Valantūr Natu - Village Women in Local Politics and the Non-traditional Work Force

Sep 10, 2026

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This dissertation examines South Asian political anthropology through an ethno-historical case study of village women’s participation in local politics and non-traditional work. Using interviews and analysis of gender relations, it focuses on traditional local governance institutions, Panchayati Raj, and women’s engagement in activities beyond conventional roles. The study centers on the Piramalai Kallar sub-caste in Madurai District, detailing the cultural logic of patriarchy, hierarchy, and reciprocity shaping political and economic life.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages630

Reading Time26 h 28 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Ethno-historical approach and scope

Local government and Panchayati Raj analysis

Case study setting and community background

Gender relations, patriarchy, and reciprocity

Panchayats: traditional and statutory frameworks

Reservations and implications for participation

THE PIRAMALAI KALLAR OFVALANTUR NATU,MADURAI DISTRICT,TAMIL NADU:VILLAGE WOMEN INLOCAL POLITICS AND THE NON-TRADITIONAL WORK FORCE by Michilynn Eva Dubeau A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirementsfor the degree of Doctor of Philosophy,Centre for South Asian Studies.University of Toronto The author has granted a non-exclusive licence allowing theNational Library of Canada toreproduce,loan,distribute or sellcopies of this thesis in microform,paper or electronic formats. The author retains ownership of thecopyright in this thesis.Neither thethesis nor substantial extracts from itmay be printed or otherwisereproduced without the author'spermission. Acquisitions andBibliographic Services 395 Wellington Street Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Canada Bibliotheque nationaledu Canada Acquisitions etservices bibliographiques 395,rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Canada 0-612-27914-6 Your file Votre relenence Our file Notre reférence L'auteur a accordé une licence nonexclusive permettant à la Bibliotheque nationale du Canada dereproduire,preter,distribuer ouvendre des copies de cette thèse sousla forme de microfiche/film,dereproduction sur papier ou sur formatelectronique. L’auteur conserve la proprieté dudroit d’auteur qui protege cette these.Nila these ni des extraits substantielsde celle-ci ne doivent etre imprimésou autrement reproduits sans sonautorisation. # Abstract The Piramalai Kallar of Valantūr Natu,Madurai District,Tamil Nadu:Village Women in Local Politics and the Non-traditional Work forceby Michilynn Eva Dubeau Doctor of Philosophy.Centre for South Asian Studies,University of Toronto,1997 This dissertation falls within South Asian political anthropology.The ethno-historicalmethod is utilized to situate the case study and facilitate an analysis of gender relations.Interviewson the topics of traditional institutions of local government,Panchayati Raj,and women'sparticipation in non-traditional activities are analysed. The Piramalai Kallar of Ariyapatti Panchayat of Cellampatti Panchayat Union ofUcilampati Taluk.Madurai District,Tamil Nadu constitutes the case study for the problem ofvillage women's participation in local politics and the non-traditional work force.The PiramalaiKallar are a sub-caste of the South Indian Mukkulattar(Kallar,Maravar,Akampatiyar),a group ofendogamous martial communities.Valantūr Natu,the territory and temple community withinwhich the case study area lies,is described and its ethno-history is discussed. The Piramalai Kallar world view configured by patriarchy,hierarchy and reciprocity is seento inform all intra-caste and inter-caste social and economic relations.The villages of PiramalaiKallar country,inter-connected by affinal ties,emerge as settlements of ranked lineages,whoinherited their lands and authority from their ancestor-heroes who had earned them through theskillful use of force,diplomacy,audacity and guile. Distinguishing cultural practices are described.Gender relations are seen as based on theparadigmatic pair of "brothers"and "affines."Public matters are the brothers'domain as males inherited land and authority.Women,as affines,are facilitators for and assist the brothers in thedomestic domain. Traditional Piramalai Kallar panchayats(courts and assemblies)and the statutorypanchayats are discussed in detail.It is argued that women will not be able to participate inPanchayati Raj and the extra-village non-traditional work force without reservations(quotas):theirparticipation will not affect the status of ordinary village women or gender relations.Traditionalpanchayats which are coherent in terms of their world view willcontinue to be relevant,thus theirjurisdictions and leadership should be recognized.The govemment can realize its commitment toequality and social justice through reservations and achieve its administrative and developmentgoals without interfering with the traditional panchayats. Acknowledgements I would like to

FAQs

What research focus does the dissertation address?

It investigates village women’s participation in local politics and the non-traditional work force, analyzing how gender relations shape access and roles.

Which method guides the analysis?

An ethno-historical method is used to situate the case study and support analysis grounded in interviews and institutional review.

Why are reservations (quotas) argued to be necessary?

The dissertation argues that women cannot participate in Panchayati Raj and extra-village non-traditional work without reservations; such participation is expected to rely on quotas rather than altering ordinary gender relations directly.

Sep 10, 2026

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