Cage of Freedom: Tamil Identity and the Ethnic Fetish in Malaysia

Singapore: Nus Press, 2007. 1st NUS edition. Paperback. New. 10-6-15. New. Anthropological research amongst Malaysia's Indian community is thin on the ground, compared to similar research amongst the country's other ethnic groups, and is usually conducted by researchers of Indian origin. Willford's topic is fairly challenging too - Tamil and Hindu revivalism in post-independence Malaysia. Much of the debate on this movement questions the extent to which the movement is a reaction to the rise of political Islam, even a way of insulating the community from it, and the extent to which the revival provides its adherents with greater freedom or maybe even ends up playing the role prescribed for the community by Islamic resurgence. 346 pages several figures, black and white photographs, an index, notes and a bibliography. The contents include chapters on Marginal Distance and Social Distance: "Worthless Dregs in a Prosperous Society", The Ritual Expression of Tamil Identity in Malaysia: A Festival of Power and Penance, Fetish, Space and Displacement in Kuala Lumpur: Tamils and the Ethnic Uncanny, Hindu Ecumenical Movements and "Middleness": Familiarity and Ambivalence in Tamil Identity, Making Distinctions: "We Had Become the Laughingstock of Other Races" & Sacred Malaysia, Greater India. New Paperback Weight 0.60 Kg. Postage within Malaysia is free