Light industry products in modern India: Intra-regional circulation, political/cultural representations and philanthropy

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25370835
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: History of Asia and Africa
• Research Institution: Kobe City University of Foreign Studies
• Principal Investigator: OISHI Takashi 神戸市外国語大学, 外国語学部, 准教授 (70347516)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 軽工業製品雑貨 / インド人商人 / ガラス製装身具 / タバコ / 香水 / マッチ / 模造 / 消費

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Modern India saw the rise of particular products/goods as the major consumer goods. This research put focus on glass ornaments, perfumes, beedi(tobacco) and matches, to explore the political/cultural representations accompanied in the consumption of these goods. In addition, it analyzed the structure of production/labour as well as the social context of religious/philanthropic endeavors shouldered by the producers/merchants.
The research illuminated important dynamics related with these issues and presented them to scholars in and outside Japan. Gradual empowerment of lower and lower-middle classes induced the appearance of those goods which should embody their new self-representation and social assertion. In such consumption, the goods needed to be the imitation of authentic/traditional goods or high-priced imported goods. Religious/philanthropic projects were occasionally launched to accommodate workers in dispersed small units under labour intensive production system.

Free Research Field

南アジア近現代史　環インド洋地域史　ムスリム社会論