On Mapping the Layers of Community Histories: Some Concluding Remarks

Abstract

In the long history of Tamil Nadu, where all doctrines were perhaps taking from a common layer, what is crucial is to study the nature and extent of the power (the hegemony) and the magnitude of domination. The Jainas developed two (parallel, perhaps) levels of addressing this question: metaphysical contemplation and a very basic discourse with the commoner. They lived on, and have lived, to this day in Tamil Nadu, though marginalised, but the Buddhists perhaps moved out of the contested space forever. Instead of ‘concluding’, there is a space for opening up further discussions on ways in which to understand (and write, or ‘read’) the history (or layers of history) of a minority (marginalised—in different senses) community or several such communities.