............................................................................................................................. Description In this work, one of the world’s leading authorities on the subject argues that, regardless of contestations to the contrary, Hindu law remains a living entity. Complex, essentially flexible, and constantly evolving, it has reached a stage of post modernity.The book closely examines theoretical and historical developments to show that Hindu Law was never a code-based, positivist state law system. Challenging the core assumptions of legal modernity, as well as traditional perceptions, the author argues that Hindu law, custom, and cultural concepts continue to play an integral role in contemporary judicial reasoning and in the formation of statutes. This intensively researched volume will be invaluable for scholars and students of law, gender studies, religion, Jurisprudence, sociology, philosophy, as well as law professionals, social theorists, and discerning general readers ............................................................................................................................. Contents Part I – Historical and Conceptual Background 1. Introduction 2. Rising from the Ashes: Postmodern Hindu Law 3. Antecedents and Concepts of Traditional Hindu Law 4. The Post-classical Evolution of Hindu Law and its Colonial Distortions 5. Origins of Modernity in Hindu Law: Emerging Discourses on Reforms and Codification 6. Contesting Modernity: Post-colonial Evolution of Hindu Law 7. Transcending Modernity: The Postmodern Reconstruction of Hindu Law Part II – Substantive Hindu Law Beyond Tradition and Modernity 8. Hindu Marriage Law 9. Child Marriage 10. Polygamy 11. Divorce 12. Maintenance Law Part III – Concluding Analysis 13. Postmodernity and Beyond Table of Cases List of Statutes Bibliography Index ............................................................................................................................. Author Details Werner F. Menski is Professor, School of Law, School of African and Asian Studies, University of London. ............................................................................................................................. |