Download or read book Towards a History of Consumption in South Asia written by Douglas E. Haynes and published by Oxford University Press, USA. This book was released on 2010 with total page 297 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume examines new ways of conceptualizing consumption historically in South Asia through a series of case studies on different commodities and consuming groups. It argues that notwithstanding the widespread character of poverty and the absence of a mass consumer society, consumptionpractices and attitudes about consumption have been critical factors in the constitution of South Asian society, culture, and economy since the late eighteenth century. The introduction examines patterns and trends; outlines the subject and arguments; and points to ways in which the collectionchallenges and enriches existing understandings of the subcontinent and its past.