TY  - BOOK
AU  - Jayawardena,Kumari
TI  - Nobodies to somebodies : : the rise of the colonial bourgeoisie in Sri Lanka / 
SN  - 8187496177 (pbk.)
U1  - 305.55095493 JAY 23
PY  - 2002///
CY  - New York : 
PB  - Zed Books, 
KW  - Middle class
KW  - Sri Lanka
KW  - History
KW  - Sri Lanka |
KW  - Social conditions.
KW  - Economic conditions
KW  - Great Britain
KW  - Colonies
KW  - Asia
KW  - Social conditions
KW  - 19th century
N1  - Includes bibliographical references (p. [370]-379) and indexes
N2  - "Nobodies to Somebodies examines the origins and growth of the bourgeoisie in Sri Lanka during British rule - an important but neglected aspect of the country's modern history. It traces its evolution from a 'feudal' society and mercantilist economy to the age of plantations; In the course of this evolution local merchants accumulated capital through arrack and toll renting, subsequently diversifying into plantation cultivation and graphite mining, thereby making dents in the old caste-based division of labour.";  "The book focuses on the rentier nature of the bourgeoisie and how they adopted Western culture and lifestyles and were basically collaborative with the colonial rulers. It highlights the constraints on further capitalist development, the obsession of the bourgeoisie with land acquisition and social status, and its consciousness as a class, especially on issues of political reform."--BOOK JACKET
ER  -