Synopses & Reviews
Nobodies to Somebodies examines the origins and growth of the bourgeoisie in Sri Lanka during British rule--an important but neglected aspect of the country's modern history. It traces the evolution of the bourgeoisie from a 'feudal' society and mercantilist economy, to the age of plantations. This study assigns primacy to class over caste, and gives details about the rise of the new-rich 'Nobodies' of many castes, ethnicities, and religions into the ranks of the 'Somebodies'.
About the Author
Kumari Jayawardena is currently a Senior Fellow of the Graduate Studies Institute of Colombo University.
Table of Contents
Part I: Mainly 'Nobodies ' in a Colonial Backwater * Trade and Accumulation in the Pre-Plantation Economy * The Beginnings of the Bourgeoisie * Taking Off Through the Arrack Trade * Multi-Caste Class Formation *
Part II: Becoming 'Somebodies' * Transition to Plantation Economy * Marketing Arrack among Workers and Peasants * Profits in the Liquor Trade * Merchant Capitalists Spread Their Wings *
Part III: Accumulating Status and Constructing Identity * Recasting Caste in Class Society * The Sinhala Bourgeoisie of 'Nobodies' and 'Somebodies' * The Creation of the Colombo Tamil Bourgeoisie * Constructing Muslim Identity * Burghers and Eurasians as Modernizers *
Part IV: Culture, Religious Revival and Gender * Christianization and Cultural Assimilation * Religious Revival and the Bourgeoisie * The Debut of the Bourgeois Woman *
Part V: Capital and Politics * The Politics of Loyalty and Royalty * Class and Caste in National Politics
Part I: Mainly 'Nobodies ' in a Colonial Backwater * Trade and Accumulation in the Pre-Plantation Economy * The Beginnings of the Bourgeoisie * Taking Off Through the Arrack Trade * Multi-Caste Class Formation * Part II: Becoming 'Somebodies' * Transition to Plantation Economy * Marketing Arrack among Workers and Peasants * Profits in the Liquor Trade * Merchant Capitalists Spread Their Wings * Part III: Accumulating Status and Constructing Identity * Recasting Caste in Class Society * The Sinhala Bourgeoisie of 'Nobodies' and 'Somebodies' * The Creation of the Colombo Tamil Bourgeoisie * Constructing Muslim Identity * Burghers and Eurasians as Modernizers * Part IV: Culture, Religious Revival and Gender * Christianization and Cultural Assimilation * Religious Revival and the Bourgeoisie * The Debut of the Bourgeois Woman * Part V: Capital and Politics * The Politics of Loyalty and Royalty * Class and Caste in National Politics