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Title: An important contribution
Review: I think this is one of the most important contributions to the anthropology of South Asia in the last twenty years. It rings profoundly true and helps us understand Indian civic identity in a manner unmatched previously in the literature. Mines finds a way to critique Dumont while not forgetting his important contributions. It provides an entirely new way to look at Indian identity and civic life - by thinking of an individuality which is defined by the relationships that a person has with others - but that leaves room for a sense of self. This is important readfing for political scientists, economists, as well as anthropologists, and would also be helpful to those in the development world working on demand-driven approaches.
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