Caste Solidarity in Managing Social Networks: Evidence from the Western Himalayas, Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

Harsh environmental conditions are synonymous with the mountain ecosystems. This impels the mountain communities to develop strategies to overcome the vagaries of nature for their survival and in turn brings an interplay of solidarities. The paper is based on ethnographic data gathered from Jangi village in district Kinnaur of Himachal Pradesh, and attempts to document, how village solidarities among the Kolis (weavers) caste group shape up and help them to sustain a livelihood through social networking. Here the documentation of social networking can be seen as an indication of how small and combined efforts can make a job sustainable along with creating a we feeling among the members of the caste group. This paper can be seen as contributing to the growing body of literature on sustainable development and social dynamics in mountain ecosystems.