Study Questions & Terms on
Behind Mud Walls by W. & C. Wiser

 
   1.  Why were the Brahmans so highly respected in traditional India?
  Consider practical as well as religious and theoretical reasons why
 traditional villagers obeyed and respected their Brahmans.

  2.  How extensive was the role of women in keeping tradition in India?
  What power did the women in the village have?

  3.  Explain the symbolism of "behind mud walls."

  4.  Describe the caste system and how it represents a division of labor as
 well as a religious classification.  What mode(s) of production is (are)
 represented here?

  5.  "To a newcomer we may seem suspicious, obstinate, intolerant,
 backward. . . . Refusal to change is the armor with which we have learned to
 protect ourselves."  Discuss the meaning of this statement.

  6.  (Compare and contrast traditional Indian and Western social groupings
 or "class" structures by the eighteenth century, and explain how
 differences in the social groupings account for the differing stories
 of these civilizations between 1400 and 1800.)*

  7.  (Compare the Indian view of the world and life with that of the West
 since about 1400, attempting to explain the differing social and political
 histories of the two societies therefrom.)*

  8.  "Our walls, which conceal all that we treasure, are a necessary part of
 our defense.  Our forefathers hid themselves from a covetous world
 behind mud walls.  We do the same."  Explain the meaning of this
 statement and indicate what minor differences there were for the walls in
 recent times (since the 1930's).

  9.  "Not one of them spoke of his wife, and their children came into the
 picture only in connection with opportunities for schooling or for
 employment.  Families were mentioned but seemed less important at the
 moment than their own interests as individuals."  What exactly has the
 speaker recorded in this statement?

10.  "Perhaps we are what we are because of former lives... 
The old order has... provided a task for everyone... 
and for village self-sufficiency...."  Identify the social importance
 of this statement and explain this rationale in detail.

11.  Using the Wisers' description of Karimpur, test Redfield's and/or
 Rostow's characterizations of the "traditional" village society. 
 (This problem requires that, before you judge their power, you identify 
and explain all of the roles controlled by women in Karimpur.)
  
12.  Using Karimpur, elaborate on the meaning of "folk behavior."

13.  Which civilization is most stable, traditional Indian or modern Western?
  (What relation does this stability have to their differing experiences between 1400 and 1800?)*


TERMS

1) the four great divisions of caste (varna):
 
2) wise leaders (Brahmans), 

3) warriors (Kshatriya),
 
4) merchants and traders (Vaisya), and 

5) common workers (sudras)

6) untouchables

7) sweeper caste (banghis)

8) village accountants (patwari)

9) village watchman (chaukidar)

10) sudras

11) "the Leaders"

12) mud walls

13) patrons (jajmans) 

14) the dole (or village welfare)

______________
*The problems in parentheses are meant to be considered later in the
 semester, after the class has dealt with modernization.  They may appear on
 the final exam.