Modern Asian Studies

Table of Contents - 1988 - Volume 22, Issue 04  

Articles

Passions of Nation and Community in the Bahubali Affair

Michael Carrithersa1

a1 University of Durham

In early 1983 Digambar and Svetambar Jains forced into public prominence their struggle over the local Jain pilgrimage site of Bahubali hill in Kolhapur District in southern Maharashtra, in India. By the end of that year the majority Maratha community, Harijans, the local and State Congress Party, the police, the district administration, and the State and Union governments were also entangled in the conflict. These Byzantine and sometimes violent events became known as ‘The Bahubali Affair’ (Marathi bāhubalīprakaran).