REVIEW: Anjali Arondekar. Abundance. Sexuality’s History (Alice Baudequin)

[Frederick Noronha]

QUOTE: The author presents the Gomantak Maratha Samaj (referred to as the Samaj) as a devadasi collectivity that emerged within the context of the Portuguese colonial occupation of Goa. Devadasis, both as a gendered social role and as a community, have a complex status in India. While the word “devadasi” primarily designates a female slave of a god or a master in Sanskrit, they are mainly classical artists, singers, and dancers from lower caste origins who live as communities more or less related to temples. While they are often attached to ritual duties and dances, their functions include important regional variations. They are also associated with prostitution even though they are not always sex workers. Yet their unusual status outside marriage results in the wider stigmatization of their sexuality.  UNQUOTE

https://journals.openedition.org/samaj/9632?utm_source=chatgpt.com

[William Robert Da Silva]

Dear Anjali, you have touched the major aspects of Goa's Devadasi samaj which became Gomanthak Marathi Samaj. But, in Konkani, it comes from kalaavant, which is celebrated in Catholic man'ddo  as Hanv, saiba, poltoddi veta ...

I have studied it while at GU between 1988-1997 with more than 14 students of social sciences. It is a very rich people's tradition. Shatadurga, shanteri, too belongs to it as the worship of the termite hill in Goa and there is more. It is also the case in coastal Karnataka. D. Bandoddkar etc. were part of the community, if you remember and there is much more to the life, tradition and 'marathised' transformation of the same.

If it interests you, I would be willing to work with you. All the best in your research.

Dr. William Robert Da Silva

9980323912 Whats App

On Sun, Sep 21, 2025 at 6:59 PM Frederick Noronha <frederic...@gmail.com> wrote:

QUOTE: The author presents the Gomantak Maratha Samaj (referred to as the Samaj) as a devadasi collectivity that emerged within the context of the Portuguese colonial occupation of Goa. Devadasis, both as a gendered social role and as a community, have a complex status in India. While the word “devadasi” primarily designates a female slave of a god or a master in Sanskrit, they are mainly classical artists, singers, and dancers from lower caste origins who live as communities more or less related to temples. While they are often attached to ritual duties and dances, their functions include important regional variations. They are also associated with prostitution even though they are not always sex workers. Yet their unusual status outside marriage results in the wider stigmatization of their sexuality.  UNQUOTE

https://journals.openedition.org/samaj/9632?utm_source=chatgpt.com

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