Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter I
2. Contents V
3. Illustrations XI
4. Tables XV
5. Acknowledgments XVII
6. Note on Transliteration and Spelling of Non-English Words XIX
7. Maps XXI
8. 1. Introduction 1
9. PART ONE. CONCEPTS
10. 2. Conceiving Caste 15
11. 3. The Study of Commerce in Indian Society 33
12. PART TWO. BUSINESS
13. 4. The Colonial Expansion 53
14. 5. Banker's Trust and the Culture of Banking 89
15. 6. A Collectivist Spirit of Capitalism 104
16. PART THREE. RITUAL AND KINSHIP
17. 7. The Magic of Capitalism and the Mercantile Elite 133
18. 8. Marriage Alliance 159
19. 9. Temple Control and Cross-Cut Segmentation in Chettinad 189
20. 10. Conclusion: Social Structure as Social Investment 213
21. Appendix A Interest Rate Tables 237
22. Appendix B. Sample Hundis 240
23. Appendix C. Career of Raja Sir Muthia Chettiar 244
24. Appendix D. Nakarattar Kinship Terms 245
25. Notes 249
26. Glossary 285
27. References 299
28. Index 327