Abstract Panel


Authors Information
SequenceTypeName TitleFirst NameLast NameDepartmentInstitute / Affiliation
1 Author Dr. Surbhi Dayal HSS Faculty, IIM Indore
Abstract Information
TrackID
:
IUAES23_ABS_C6342
Abstract Theme
:
P113_SP2 Socio-Cultural Marginalization and Educational Experiences
Abstract Title
:
Entertaining through History
Short Abstract
:
This paper focuses on the practice of dancing in the dance bar among the Kanjar community in rural areas of Rajasthan. It discusses the practice of dancing in dance bars by Kanjar women, who were traditional entertainers in the ancient period during their nomadic or semi-nomadic lives in history. The nature of their work also changes with the changing sites. This paper sheds light on how unmarried Kanjar women empower themselves through their earnings from dancing and sex work and become the centre of the family economy in a society where they were once labelled as being criminal once. It further highlights the manner in which they fought for survival and exercised their power, at least expected social sites. How Kanjars are cutting across the two centuries old stigma and making their own identity in the larger society. The paper is based on multi-sited ethnography Kanjars.
Long Abstract
:

This paper focuses on the practice of dancing in the dance bar among the Kanjar community in rural areas of Rajasthan. It discusses the practice of dancing in dance bars by Kanjar women, who were traditional entertainers in the ancient period during their nomadic or semi-nomadic lives in history. It makes an attempt to trace historical linkages like their pre-colonial (as entertainers), colonial (as criminal tribe), and post-independence (denotified tribe) status in India. It tries to trace the transformation process of Kanjar women from traditional entertainers to present-day dance bar girls. The paper explores the economics of dance bars and the various stakeholder groups involved in dance bars. It sheds light on how women, who were traditional entertainers in history and lived in rural and remote areas, survive in metropolitan cities in India and Middle Eastern countries. Paper shed light how unmarried traditional entertainer empower herself by her earning of dance and sex work and becomes the centre of family economy in a society where they are labelled as being criminal once. It further highlights the manner in which they fought for survival and exercised their power at least expected social sites. How Kanjars are cutting across the two centuries old stigma and making their own identity in the larger society. The central research method used is multisited ethnography due to the peripatetic nature of Kanjar's work. The research employs reflexive ethnographic methods like observation of participation, interviews, and case studies.

Abstract Keywords
:
Traditional entertainers, dance bar girls, tribe