Punjab Castes

Mr. Ibbeston’s monumental work on the Punjab Caste is extremely systematic and clearly arranged. In his own words “It is of but small advantage to cast Voluminous tables of naked figures at the heads of District officers, without at the same time explaining what they represent, which can be done by no one but him who compiled them”. Every caste, from the highest standard to the lowest classes of aborigines and outcaste, is reviewed in much detail. This is the first attempt to give anything like a general survey of the caste and tribes system as it exists in Punjab.

Though inter spread with speculations on the social, political and religious aspects of caste, the work is in the main not only purely statistical but is a masterpiece in the field of social anthropology. It deserves the attention not only of persons specially interested in India but also, of every student of contemporary society and anthropology.

Mr. Ibbeston gives the pedigrees of the Castes, tracing them to whence they sprang, and shows what they now remain. It is a blunt, honest, manly work, blinking no convictions, sacrificing, nothing of principle. The whole work is a most useful contribution to the study of Indian caste system and the most complete catalogue of the Punjab Caste. The author’s style is throughout glowing and picturesque, his descriptions vivid and powerful.

Students of Anthropology. Sociology Indian History and comparative religion will find this book a much needed source of knowledge and information and shall be a useful tool for District and central officers as a handbook for reference on all the subjects dealt with in the cansus Schedule. The Publishers feel pleasure in issuing yet another volume in the series of the “Native Races of India.”