Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter 1
2. Table of contents 5
3. Notes 7
4. Introduction 9
5. Part I: Friendship in India – a ‘social phenomenon of modernity’?
6. 1. Anthropological accounts of modernity 23
7. 2. Research question: Peer groups among Tamil graduate students 43
8. Part II: Making and maintaining friendship
9. 3. Exposure and status on campus 73
10. 4. Beyond the campus: Among friends in the domestic sphere 105
11. Part III: Just a friend? Ritual implications
12. 5. “Key site of cultural contestation”? Youth, education and marriage 123
13. 6. Reflections on compatibility: The students′ perspective 143
14. 7. Peers as mediators in matchmaking and pre-wedding ceremonies 173
15. 8. Peers in wedding ceremonies 213
16. 9. Conclusion and outlook 263
17. References and literature 273
18. Illustrations, tables and maps 283
19. Abbreviations 285
20. Glossary 287
21. Acknowledgements 299