Caste, Catholic Christianity and the Language of Conversion Social Changes and Cultural Translation in Tamil Country

List of Abbreviations Preface Introduction SECTION I Tamil Hindu Society and the Advent of the Portuguese The Catholic Religious Orders and Glimpses into the Conversion of the Tamils Castes, Communities, Societal Change and the Catholic Institutions SECTION II The Christian Life and Everyday Practices of the Tamils Luso-Tamil Cultural Relations Social Life of the Portuguese Casados and Masticotes on the Tamil Coast SECTION III Role of the Tamil Printing Press: Development of Christian Devotional Literature and Prose Portuguese Contribution to Tamil Grammar and Lexicography SECTION IV Portuguese and the Religious Architecture in the Churches of Tamilnadu Inside the Tamil Church: Ecclesiastical Art, Role of the Portuguese Missionaries and the Armenian Merchants Conclusion Appendices Glossary Select Bibliography Index.