Kinship, Caste and Class
Justify the idea that in ancient Tamilakam, social status was linked not just to wealth accumulation but also to generosity.
Name the noted Indian Sanskritist who led the project to prepare a critical edition of the Mahabharata starting in 1919.
Define 'exogamy' as a rule of marriage.
Examine the primary purpose of the exogamy system as prescribed in Brahmanical texts for high-status families.
Name the colossal epic that is a rich source for understanding the social histories of the Indian subcontinent between c. 500 BCE and 500 CE.
Define the term 'patriliny' as discussed in the context of early Indian societies.
Examine the core idea of the Buddhist theory of social contract regarding the institution of kingship.
Analyze the reasons why patrilineal succession was reinforced by the central story of the Mahabharata.
Analyze how the marriage practices of the Satavahana rulers challenged the Brahmanical rules regarding gotra.
Compare and contrast the Brahmanical ideal of kingship being reserved for Kshatriyas with the historical evidence of non-Kshatriya rulers.
Explain the two important rules regarding gotra that were prescribed by Brahmanical texts for women after marriage.
Describe the concept of 'stridhana' and explain its significance for women in early societies.
Explain the difference between the narrative and didactic sections of the Mahabharata as classified by historians.
List the four varnas and their ideal occupations as prescribed in the Dharmasutras and Dharmashastras.
Identify the term used in Sanskrit texts to designate the larger network of kinfolk, beyond the immediate family.
Recall the term used by Brahmanas to refer to people they considered barbarians or outsiders, such as the Shakas from Central Asia.
Justify the assertion that the central story of the Mahabharata was used to reinforce the ideal of patrilineal succession among ruling elites.
Formulate an argument critiquing the concept of 'stridhana' as a genuine measure of economic empowerment for women in early Indian societies, based on the Manusmriti.
Create a dialogue between Drona and Arjuna after the Ekalavya episode, where Arjuna questions the morality of Drona's actions and Drona justifies them based on his understanding of dharma.
Critique the Brahmanical claim of the varna order's divine origin as described in the Purusha sukta.
Propose one reason why the authors of the Mahabharata might have included multiple, complex justifications for Draupadi's polyandrous marriage.
Critique the original Mahabharata's narrative of the house of lac incident from the perspective offered by Mahashweta Devi's 'Kunti O Nishadi'.
Evaluate the effectiveness of the Brahmanical strategies for enforcing the norms of untouchability as prescribed in texts like the Manusmriti.
Compare and contrast the means through which men and women could acquire wealth according to the Manusmriti.
Analyze the role of sutas in the original composition of the Mahabharata.
Compare and contrast the Brahmanical view of social order derived from the Purusha sukta with the Buddhist theory of a social contract.
Examine the social values cherished in ancient Tamilakam as depicted in Sangam literature, and show how they offered an alternative to accumulation of wealth.
Analyze the duties prescribed for chandalas in the Manusmriti and the social implications of these rules.
Evaluate the role of 'jati' as a flexible social category compared to the rigid four-fold 'varna' system. Use the example of the Mandasor silk weavers.
Analyze the Buddhist perspective on social differences as revealed in the Majjhima Nikaya.
Examine the story of Ekalavya to understand how Brahmanical dharma was enforced and how it impacted marginalized communities.
Justify the claim that the Buddhist theory of kingship, as found in the Sutta Pitaka, is fundamentally more democratic than the Brahmanical view.
Summarize the story of Ekalavya from the Mahabharata and explain the social norms it was meant to reinforce.
Explain the duties prescribed for the chandalas according to the Manusmriti and describe how they were viewed by the 'pure' castes.
Examine the case of the silk weavers of Mandasor to demonstrate the complexities of jati and social mobility in early Indian society.
Describe the process undertaken by the team of scholars to prepare the Critical Edition of the Mahabharata.
Summarize the Buddhist theory of a social contract as an alternative to the Brahmanical view of society.
Formulate a proposal for a new set of marriage rules for a fictional early Indian society that aims to balance the Brahmanical ideal of exogamy with the practical need for strong kin-based alliances. Justify your proposed rules.
Critique the methodology of creating the Critical Edition of the Mahabharata. Evaluate whether selecting verses 'common to most versions' truly creates an 'authentic' version of the epic.
Describe the evidence from inscriptions and texts that suggests the Satavahana rulers did not universally follow Brahmanical prescriptions about marriage and gotra.
Analyze the process and key findings of the project to prepare the Critical Edition of the Mahabharata, led by V.S. Sukthankar.
Evaluate the argument that the Mahabharata is more a reflection of evolving social norms than a literal historical account of a single event. Justify your position with evidence from the text regarding its composition and content.
Analyze the challenges historians face when using the Mahabharata as a source to reconstruct the social histories of early India.
Propose a reason why Brahmanical texts described the powerful Mauryan rulers as being of 'low' origin.
Evaluate the extent to which the Satavahana rulers followed Brahmanical prescriptions regarding marriage and lineage. Propose reasons for their deviations.