Patronage and Exploitation

Patronage and Exploitation: Changing Agrarian Relations in South Gujarat, India delves into the evolving relationships between landowners and landless laborers in rural India, focusing on the Anavil Brahmans and the Dublas in South Gujarat. Despite significant urbanization, India remains a predominantly agrarian society, yet much of its rural social structure has been overlooked by researchers. Jan Breman bridges this gap by tracing the historical development of agrarian labor systems, particularly the hali system, a form of bonded labor. Through a combination of meticulous fieldwork and historical research, Breman uncovers how these systems have shaped and been reshaped by broader socio-economic changes. By examining the local impact of national trends like the "green revolution," the book sheds light on the resilience of historical inequalities amid modern agricultural transformations.

This richly detailed study is organized chronologically, offering insights into the continuity and shifts in power dynamics between landlords and laborers from the early 19th century to the 1970s. Breman’s work combines sociological analysis with historical depth, drawing on archival sources, personal fieldwork, and interviews conducted across two decades. By integrating themes of caste, labor, and economic development, the book provides a compelling narrative of exploitation and resistance, making it an essential read for those interested in rural India, agrarian studies, and the enduring challenges of social inequality.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1974.