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ID: 177194

Introduction to ‘Translating Sex: Locating Sexology in Indian History’ / Pande, Ishita

Pande, Ishita	Journal Article
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Summary/Abstract

This introduction to ‘Translating Sex’ places the six essays included in this special section in the context of the history of sexuality in the Indian subcontinent, and argues for a need to write more comprehensive histories of sexology—the field of inquiry which promoted the understanding of sex as a ‘scientific object’ around the globe at the turn of the twentieth century. It identifies the divergent materials covered in, and the common grounds occupied by, the six essays that deal with sex as a translated object of knowledge; considers the history of vernacular sexology; and showcases the ubiquity of sexology in socio-cultural, political and literary debates in the Indian subcontinent in the first half of the twentieth century. It argues that by locating sexology in Indian history, we can render ‘sexuality’ a more useful category of analysis for this context as well as comprehend what might be termed the sexuality of Indian history.

Key Words

Translation ; Sexology ; Sexuality of History ; Vernacular Science

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ID: 188840

Mother Cow and Maternal Behaviour in Colonial North India / Price, Lloyd

Price, Lloyd	Journal Article
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This article offers a historical analysis of the interdisciplinary question to what extent animal behaviour influences domestication, by exploring how socio-cultural representations of cows as mothers were shaped by perceptions of their maternal behaviours. It does so by providing an analysis of the evolution of dairying practices in both the colonial and vernacular sciences of modern India. Mother cow (gau måtå) was imbibed with spiritual and material significance in the discourses of public health, food security and gastro-politics from the late nineteenth century. But to what extent were cultural representations influenced by the maternal behaviours of the cow? Analysing animal husbandry practices, it is shown here that in contrast to the Western tradition of segregating the mother from her calf, the maternal behaviours and emotions of Bos indicus zebu cows were perceived by many dairy farmers to be an evolved characteristic that needed to be nurtured.

Key Words

Colonialism ; Cow Protection ; Vernacular Science ; Animal Behaviour ; Dairy Farming ; Mother Cow

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