India is often noted for the large body of contradictions that exist within it, which has left many observers in a state of bafflement, never really understanding why or how such huge inconsistencies can harmoniously exist. The intent of this thesis is to begin an exploration into India’s mass of contradictions.
The insights of Indian informants were incorporated into this study in an attempt to explain this dilemma. The respondents were interviewed in order to determine whether (1) they are aware that these contradictions exist and (2) whether they attempt to reconcile them and, if so, how. The fascinating interplay between India’s cultural traditions and its economic system can hopefully be better understood as a result of this study. In the future, a similar model may be useful in exploring other developing countries and their own personal sets of contradictions.
","abstract_html":"<p>India is often noted for the large body of contradictions that exist within it, which has left many observers in a state of bafflement, never really understanding why or how such huge inconsistencies can harmoniously exist. The intent of this thesis is to begin an exploration into India’s mass of contradictions.</p> <p>The insights of Indian informants were incorporated into this study in an attempt to explain this dilemma. The respondents were interviewed in order to determine whether (1) they are aware that these contradictions exist and (2) whether they attempt to reconcile them and, if so, how. The fascinating interplay between India’s cultural traditions and its economic system can hopefully be better understood as a result of this study. In the future, a similar model may be useful in exploring other developing countries and their own personal sets of contradictions.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Handa, Melissa LR"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Arts (MA)","degree_level":"Open Access Thesis","degree_discipline":"Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Jay Weinstein, PhD, Chair","Solange Simoes, PhD"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2009,"date_issued":"2009-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2009-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:16:36Z","subjects":["Social change India","India Civilization 21st century","Anthropology"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://commons.emich.edu/theses/227","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Jay Weinstein, PhD, Chair","Solange Simoes, PhD"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Handa, Melissa LR"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Open Access Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Arts (MA)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Social change India","India Civilization 21st century","Anthropology"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/227"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["India is often noted for the large body of contradictions that exist within it, which has left many observers in a state of bafflement, never really understanding why or how such huge inconsistencies can harmoniously exist. The intent of this thesis is to begin an exploration into India’s mass of contradictions.
The insights of Indian informants were incorporated into this study in an attempt to explain this dilemma. The respondents were interviewed in order to determine whether (1) they are aware that these contradictions exist and (2) whether they attempt to reconcile them and, if so, how. The fascinating interplay between India’s cultural traditions and its economic system can hopefully be better understood as a result of this study. In the future, a similar model may be useful in exploring other developing countries and their own personal sets of contradictions.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["The nature of contradictions in India: Using an applied ethnographic technique to further intercultural understanding"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Jay Weinstein, PhD, Chair","Solange Simoes, PhD"],"dc:creator":["Handa, Melissa LR"],"dc:description.abstract":["India is often noted for the large body of contradictions that exist within it, which has left many observers in a state of bafflement, never really understanding why or how such huge inconsistencies can harmoniously exist. The intent of this thesis is to begin an exploration into India’s mass of contradictions.
The insights of Indian informants were incorporated into this study in an attempt to explain this dilemma. The respondents were interviewed in order to determine whether (1) they are aware that these contradictions exist and (2) whether they attempt to reconcile them and, if so, how. The fascinating interplay between India’s cultural traditions and its economic system can hopefully be better understood as a result of this study. In the future, a similar model may be useful in exploring other developing countries and their own personal sets of contradictions.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/227"],"dc:subject":["Social change India","India Civilization 21st century","Anthropology"],"dc:title":["The nature of contradictions in India: Using an applied ethnographic technique to further intercultural understanding"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology"],"thesis:degree_level":["Open Access Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Arts (MA)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:16:36Z"}