From Sarkivasi (nomadic) to Gaonvasi (villager): The impact of sedentarisation on Rajasthan's stigmatised Nat community

The Nat community in Rajasthan is among the most stigmatised groups. Traditionally known as a nomadic entertainment group, they are currently involved in various economic activities, including sex work, which carries significant societal stigma. This paper investigates the interconnected phenomena o...

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Main Author: Hemraj P. Jangir
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Social Sciences and Humanities Open
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291124004352
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author Hemraj P. Jangir
author_facet Hemraj P. Jangir
author_sort Hemraj P. Jangir
collection DOAJ
description The Nat community in Rajasthan is among the most stigmatised groups. Traditionally known as a nomadic entertainment group, they are currently involved in various economic activities, including sex work, which carries significant societal stigma. This paper investigates the interconnected phenomena of sedentarisation and stigmatisation, illuminating the Nat community's transition from a nomadic to a sedentary lifestyle. The study was conducted across five districts in Rajasthan, a princely state in India. Two of the five districts included in the study are urban districts where a considerable number of Nat families rely on sex work. Conversely, the other three districts are rural, predominantly inhabited by Nat families engaged in agricultural and construction labor, with no ties to sex work. Data was collected through in-depth interviews and analysed using a qualitative content analysis approach. Findings indicate distinct settlement patterns within the Nat community, with significant variations in influencing factors across different districts.
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spelling doaj-art-3bdc0cadf69a4c708497a8a958d6d96f2025-08-20T02:10:07ZengElsevierSocial Sciences and Humanities Open2590-29112025-01-011110123810.1016/j.ssaho.2024.101238From Sarkivasi (nomadic) to Gaonvasi (villager): The impact of sedentarisation on Rajasthan's stigmatised Nat communityHemraj P. Jangir0Indian Institute of Dalit Studies (IIDS), New Delhi, IndiaThe Nat community in Rajasthan is among the most stigmatised groups. Traditionally known as a nomadic entertainment group, they are currently involved in various economic activities, including sex work, which carries significant societal stigma. This paper investigates the interconnected phenomena of sedentarisation and stigmatisation, illuminating the Nat community's transition from a nomadic to a sedentary lifestyle. The study was conducted across five districts in Rajasthan, a princely state in India. Two of the five districts included in the study are urban districts where a considerable number of Nat families rely on sex work. Conversely, the other three districts are rural, predominantly inhabited by Nat families engaged in agricultural and construction labor, with no ties to sex work. Data was collected through in-depth interviews and analysed using a qualitative content analysis approach. Findings indicate distinct settlement patterns within the Nat community, with significant variations in influencing factors across different districts.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291124004352SedentarisationSocietal stigmaNomadic entertainment and Occupational diversities
spellingShingle Hemraj P. Jangir
From Sarkivasi (nomadic) to Gaonvasi (villager): The impact of sedentarisation on Rajasthan's stigmatised Nat community
Social Sciences and Humanities Open
Sedentarisation
Societal stigma
Nomadic entertainment and Occupational diversities
title From Sarkivasi (nomadic) to Gaonvasi (villager): The impact of sedentarisation on Rajasthan's stigmatised Nat community
title_full From Sarkivasi (nomadic) to Gaonvasi (villager): The impact of sedentarisation on Rajasthan's stigmatised Nat community
title_fullStr From Sarkivasi (nomadic) to Gaonvasi (villager): The impact of sedentarisation on Rajasthan's stigmatised Nat community
title_full_unstemmed From Sarkivasi (nomadic) to Gaonvasi (villager): The impact of sedentarisation on Rajasthan's stigmatised Nat community
title_short From Sarkivasi (nomadic) to Gaonvasi (villager): The impact of sedentarisation on Rajasthan's stigmatised Nat community
title_sort from sarkivasi nomadic to gaonvasi villager the impact of sedentarisation on rajasthan s stigmatised nat community
topic Sedentarisation
Societal stigma
Nomadic entertainment and Occupational diversities
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291124004352
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