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New Books in Anthropology
Shalva Weil, "The Baghdadi Jews in India: Maintaining Communities, Negotiating Identities and Creating Super-Diversity" (Routledge, 2021)
Oct 2, 2024
In this engaging talk, Professor Shalva Weil delves into the fascinating narratives of Baghdadi Jews in India. She explores their brief yet impactful history, emphasizing the importance of cultural identity amidst modern challenges. The discussion highlights the migration stories and socio-economic diversity within Indian Jewish communities, including the Bene Israel and Cochin groups. Weil also reflects on significant historical figures, the unique contributions of Baghdadi Jews, and the dynamic processes of identity negotiation and community cohesion.
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Quick takeaways
- The podcast highlights the unique historical trajectories of Indian Jewish communities, focusing on the Baghdadi Jews' influence and subsequent decline post-1947.
- Inter-community dynamics reveal a complex interplay of tension and cooperation among the Baghdadi, Ben Israel, and Kochin Jews in India.
Deep dives
Diverse Jewish Communities in India
There are three main Jewish communities in India: the Ben Israel, the Kochin Jews, and the Baghdadi Jews, each with distinct histories and characteristics. The Ben Israel, estimated to be around 90,000, claim descent from the lost tribes of Israel, having arrived in India after a shipwreck around 175 BCE, and gradually established communities primarily in Bombay. Kochin Jews, although significantly smaller at around 2,400 members, have a history connected to South India, existing as two sub-groups: the white Paradisi Jews and the black Malabari Jews. In contrast, the Baghdadi Jews are more recent newcomers, arriving in the 18th century, primarily driven by trade opportunities through the British East India Company, establishing their communities in urban centers like Bombay, where they became influential merchants and socially connected to the British elite.
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