Crooked Stalks
Cultivating Virtue in South India
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 2685824 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Anand S Pandian (corresponding author), Anand Pandian |
| Year | 2009 |
| Pages | 342 |
| Publication date | 2009-10-16 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | BOOK |
| Venue | Crooked Stalks (SOURCE_BOOK) |
| Publisher | Duke University Press (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.2307/j.ctv1210107 |
| OpenAlex | W4242787602 |
| ISBN | 9780822391012 |
| Open Library | OL29610318M |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 4 |
Anand Pandian's "Crooked Stalks: Cultivating Virtue in South India" explores the complex relationship between agricultural practice, moral character, and social hierarchy in Tamil Nadu, South India. Focusing on the cultivation of kavalai, a variety of dryland paddy, Pandian examines how farmers' embodied knowledge and skillful manipulation of the crop's precarious growth are seen as reflecting and shaping their moral virtues. The book argues that the crooked stalks of kavalai, seemingly a sign of imperfection, are understood by farmers as a testament to their attentiveness and resilience, qualities valued within the local moral economy. Pandian's ethnographic analysis reveals how agricultural labor and expertise become intertwined with social status and moral standing, challenging conventional notions of progress and development. He demonstrates how farmers' intimate understanding of the land and their ability to navigate its challenges contribute to a distinct form of moral cultivation that emphasizes adaptability and perseverance in the face of adversity
Business · Anthropological Studies and Insights · Computer Science · Social and Economic Development in India · South Asian Cinema and Culture · 1765-1947 · Agriculture · Agriculture, economic aspects · british occupation · Economic aspects · Economic development · History · India · Moral and ethical aspects · Social aspects
| Citations per year | 0.31 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2013 - 2026 (14) |
| Highly cited | No |