Traditional Hierarchies of Zamindars and Kammis in Pakistani Punjab: Contemporary Contests Through Vartan Bhanji

Abstract

This article challenges the traditional understanding of the role of landownership in rural Punjab in the context of recent socio-economic restructuring of Pakistani society. Based on extensive ethnographic fieldwork of contemporary practices of gift exchange ( vartan bhanji) in a village, we argue that the Kammi biraderis, once considered lower class, now assert their elevated socio-economic status through vartan bhanji on important social occasions like marriages. Zamindars now see themselves in competition both with Kammi biraderis and each other for social prestige and superior status, as new claims made by different biraderis challenge traditional hierarchies created through historically structured socio-economic inequalities.

Pottery in Telangana: Empirical Evidence of Current and Future Challenges

“…Potters performed their traditional functions mainly from a rural basis, providing services to other communities in rural as well as urban areas. In rural contexts, they traditionally received in-kind or cash payments, though that system is widely reported to be breaking down, shown in detail for Pakistani Punjab (Mughal, 2018;Qadar & Waheed, 2023). Indian society has historically been organised along caste-based hierarchical lines (Beteille, 1965), with each sub-caste group pursuing its hereditary occupation or activity.…”