Towards Revitalizing Diversity A Study of the Traditional Jajmani System in India

Abstract

Diversity is our natural condition;however, it faces severe depletion in contemporary times- extinction of languages, cultures, distinct imaginations of human living etc. is worrisome. One important reason identified for depletion of diversity is the transformed nature of modern public space which is different from the classical imagination. The modern public space seems be constructed on the marriage of efficiency with standardization . Indian society has been known for its rich diversity and thus exploration into the jajmand#257;ni system which organizedfunctioning of traditional villages can provide an understanding of principles behind society s ability to sustain unity in diversity . This study has investigated into functioning of the system from the concern of classical Indic idea of public spaceor what can be called samand#257;ja, as mentioned in nand#257;ttyaand#347;and#257;stra- the classical treatise on drama.Samand#257;ja seems to be conducive to birth and sustenance of diversity. In other words, this study explored into jajmand#257;ni system from the point of the fundamental relation between art-and-society.This way, this study attempts to situate numerous artist communities are the center of life in jajmand#257;nivillage. It further explores the nature of pre-colonial village economy which allowed for such production mechanisms which seemed suitable for sustenance of diversity. Such an approach to jajmand#257;ni system is indeed novel, with a potential to throw fresh light on the current understanding of the system newline