The sole objective of this Encyclopaedia is to present the descriptive ethnographical summaries of 134 Dalit castes of Western India (Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan) who are categorised as shudra in Hindu social order. Here we focus on the ways of living and the factors that have caused to change their socioeconomic and political life. Summaries of each entry usually provides information on the physical features, history of origin, Social system, rites and rituals; economic activities, administration and justice; religion and culture, inter-community relationship, and modernisation. This encyclopaedia seems to be as informative as possible given the limitation of space and knowledge of contributors. This monumental work is useful for scholars and readers of ethnic study of western Indian the dalit communities.
