London Patidars: A Case Study in Urban Ethnicity

First Published in 1980, London Patidars presents the case study of the Patidars, a landowning caste from the Indian state of Gujarat, in London. Patidars being the landowning caste has taken over much of the ideology of the merchant castes. This ‘merchant ideal’ is a central part of their self-image. It is an incitement to initiative in business and to some extent their actual economic behaviour does reflect the ideal. But the cases studied do not all conform to this ideal, and they pose questions: How does this particular type of ethnic boundary relate to the opportunities of the individual Patidar? Why and how is this boundary maintained? Harald Tambs-Lyche concludes that the form given to the ethnic boundary is advantageous to many Patidars but not to all in the same degree. This raises problems which potentially could change the present pattern. Other potential problems relate to their relationship with the English. As successful merchants they risk becoming objects of envy like, formerly, the Jewish community. This book is a must read for scholars of ethnic and race relations and sociology.