Hindu Law

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Description
In this major work, one of the world’s leading authorities on the subject argues that,
regardless of contestations to the contrary, Hindu law remains a living entity.
Complex, essentially flexible, and constantly evolving, it has reached a stage of
post modernity.The book closely examines theoretical and historical developments
to show that Hindu Law was never a code-based, positivist state law system.
Challenging the core assumptions of legal modernity, as well as traditional perceptions,
the author argues that Hindu law, custom, and cultural concepts continue to play
an integral role in contemporary judicial reasoning and in the formation of statutes.
This intensively researched volume will be invaluable for scholars and students of
law, gender studies, religion, Jurisprudence, sociology, philosophy, as well as law
professionals, social theorists, and discerning general readers
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Contents
Part I – Historical and Conceptual Background
1.    Introduction
2.    Rising from the Ashes: Postmodern Hindu Law
3.    Antecedents and Concepts of Traditional Hindu Law
4.    The Post-classical Evolution of Hindu Law and its Colonial Distortions
5.    Origins of Modernity in Hindu Law: Emerging Discourses on Reforms and
       Codification
6.    Contesting Modernity: Post-colonial Evolution of Hindu Law
7.    Transcending Modernity: The Postmodern Reconstruction of Hindu Law
Part II – Substantive Hindu Law Beyond Tradition and Modernity
8.    Hindu Marriage Law
9.    Child Marriage
10.  Polygamy
11.  Divorce
12.  Maintenance Law
Part III – Concluding Analysis
13.  Postmodernity and Beyond
Table of Cases
List of Statutes
Bibliography
Index
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Author Details
Werner F. Menski is Professor, School of Law, School of African and Asian Studies, University of London.
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