Kannauj is an historic city in northern India, which is known since antiquity for producing high quality natural ittar (natural perfume). This study explores the notion that perfume is a product of science and standardised production and marketing practices, whereas ittar is a natural product derived from traditional knowledge and craft production processes passed on through generations. The study highlights the ‘deg-bhapka’ technique of ittar production, explores the lifeworlds of the artisans, their perception of the art, discusses the main ittar varieties, and explores the role of social and cultural capital in preserving the legacy over generations. Semi-structured, open-ended interviews were used for data collection. Finally, the study examines the contemporary challenges and bottlenecks in this heritage industry and the incongruency of the art of ittar-making to the nuances of the capitalist economy. The possibilities for evolving and marketing ittar as a ‘green’, ‘organic’ and ‘indigenous’ product of traditional art and contemporary aesthetic standards are explored.

Based on the empirical study of the immigrant Bengali community in the Kansas City U.S.A., the paper examines the assimilation and intergenerational dynamics of second-generation immigrants. The study finds that transnational parents could not socialise their children to retain their ethnic orientation and the second generation are found to be assimilating faster into the American culture. We argue that consumption of ethnic goods and services by the second-generation immigrants does not necessarily imply their adherence to ethnic culture rather it is an act of displaying ‘symbolic ethnicity’. The study further finds that by fashioning themselves as ‘exotic other’ in an era of neo-liberalisation, they are only commodifying their ethnic culture and not stalling the assimilation process. Finally, the study contends that in the racially limited diverse environment of Kansas City, the cultural capital of the middle-class families provides an ideal platform to the second generation to assimilate.

The Hasdeo Arand is a tribal-dominated region of Chhattisgarh, with heavy coal reserves and rich biodiversity with many rare species of flora and fauna. Despite being declared a Scheduled Area for its ecological sensitivity, two coal mining projects were approved in the region in 2011, and it had a devastating impact on the forest ecosystem, leading to a loss of livelihood, culture and identity of the local tribes. This article analyses the displacement of the tribals in Hasdeo Arand from the standpoint of eight impoverishment risks, as discussed in the Impoverishment Risks and Reconstruction Model of Michael Cernea, 1997. Stated differently, the article explicates the application of the Cernea model in the context of a project-induced displacement in India. Further, it offers a nuanced understanding of the marginalisation of the displaced tribals in the backdrop of the government–business alliance. This qualitative research is a result of the study conducted among the displaced tribals of Mohanpur, Hariharpur, Fatehpur and Ghatbarra villages of Hasdeo Arand in Chhattisgarh.

This article explores the rich cultural heritage and artisanal craftsmanship of ittar-making in Kannauj, India. Rooted in centuries-old traditions, Kannauj’s ittar-making practices have been passed down through generations, maintaining the purity of natural perfume production through traditional methods like the ‘deg-bhapka’ distillation technique. The study emphasizes the importance of craftsmanship, as described by Richard Sennett, in which mastery of skill, creativity and perfection play central roles. The article offers an evocative depiction of the craftsmen’s lifeworld, emphasizing the camaraderie and mutual support inherent in the craft, while highlighting the process of skill transmission through immersive and experiential learning. Through in-depth narratives from artisans and unit owners, the study underscores the challenges of preserving this heritage amidst the growing popularity of synthetic perfumes, changing consumer preferences, rising cost of production and lack of marketing acumen. The article concludes that while the ittar industry struggles with declining demand, it retains potential for revival through better marketing strategies, ‘appropriate’ technological integration and institutional support. Ultimately, the craft’s survival depends on balancing its rich intangible cultural heritage with contemporary economic and social realities.

This paper explores the school choice decisions of middle-class parents in Lucknow City, India. The study highlights the indices that appeal to middle-class sensibilities in their pursuit of choosing the best schooling option for their children. The study unearths the influence of informal social networks on school choice decisions. Additionally, the relationship that the parents share with the school and their expectations from the school are discussed. The paper reveals how middle-class parents, by virtue of having a congruence of values and desires, form a privatist community in order to maximize the educational gains for their children. The findings are analyzed through the lens of rational choice and Bourdieusian theories. The study is qualitative in nature, and the primary methods for data collection were observation and interviews. As part of the study's data-gathering procedure, a total of 20 parents were interviewed. A semi-structured interview schedule was prepared for the study, and questions were open-ended.

This paper discusses the depiction of ‘middle-class values’ by the celebrated Indian writer R.K. Narayan. Malgudi, a fictional South Indian town, is a prototypical representation of typical Indian society and the literary works of Narayan vividly mirror the everyday happenings. Content analysis of selected short stories, namely, ‘Forty-Five a Month,’ “Iswaran” and “Sweets for Angels,”; reveal the peculiarity of the Indian middle class and the author’s apt derision of certain lifestyle practices associated with modernity. Set in the backdrop of the 1930s, the stories capture the labyrinth of social issues and problems that plague South Asian societies. For instance, educational achievement is considered to be of utmost importance for preserving one’s status and the achievement of social mobility by the middle class. Ironically, educational success is often unsuccessful in buying freedom from alienating and oppressive livelihood practices engaging the middle class. There is also an accompanying erosion of ‘social capital’ and the expanding “radius of distrust.”