"In this wide-reaching study, Susan Bayly describes the varied historical experience of converts to two West Asian monotheisms, Islam and Christianity, in predominantly Hindu India...While describing in admirable detail the diverse histories of these different communities, Bayly also traces out an underlying collective narrative of conversion, integration, disruption, and communal rigidification." Journal of the American Oriental Society

• Preface; List of maps; Note on transliteration; Abbreviations; Glossary; Introduction; 1. South Indian religion and society; 2. The development of Muslim society in Tamilnad; 3. The Muslim religious tradition in south India; 4. The south Indian state and the creation of Muslim community; 5. Warrior martyr pirs in the eighteenth century; 6. The final period of nawabi rule in the Carnatic; 7. South Indian Christians in the pre-colonial period; 8. The collapse of Syrian Christian 'integration'; 9. The Christian Paravas of southern Tamilnad; 10. Christian saints and gurus in the poligar country; 11. Christianity and colonial rule in the Tamil hinterland; 12. Conclusion; Bibliography.

"In this wide-reaching study, Susan Bayly describes the varied historical experience of converts to two West Asian monotheisms, Islam and Christianity, in predominantly Hindu India...While describing in admirable detail the diverse histories of these different communities, Bayly also traces out an underlying collective narrative of conversion, integration, disruption, and communal rigidification." Journal of the American Oriental Society

• Preface; List of maps; Note on transliteration; Abbreviations; Glossary; Introduction; 1. South Indian religion and society; 2. The development of Muslim society in Tamilnad; 3. The Muslim religious tradition in south India; 4. The south Indian state and the creation of Muslim community; 5. Warrior martyr pirs in the eighteenth century; 6. The final period of nawabi rule in the Carnatic; 7. South Indian Christians in the pre-colonial period; 8. The collapse of Syrian Christian 'integration'; 9. The Christian Paravas of southern Tamilnad; 10. Christian saints and gurus in the poligar country; 11. Christianity and colonial rule in the Tamil hinterland; 12. Conclusion; Bibliography.

"In this wide-reaching study, Susan Bayly describes the varied historical experience of converts to two West Asian monotheisms, Islam and Christianity, in predominantly Hindu India...While describing in admirable detail the diverse histories of these different communities, Bayly also traces out an underlying collective narrative of conversion, integration, disruption, and communal rigidification." Journal of the American Oriental Society

• Preface; List of maps; Note on transliteration; Abbreviations; Glossary; Introduction; 1. South Indian religion and society; 2. The development of Muslim society in Tamilnad; 3. The Muslim religious tradition in south India; 4. The south Indian state and the creation of Muslim community; 5. Warrior martyr pirs in the eighteenth century; 6. The final period of nawabi rule in the Carnatic; 7. South Indian Christians in the pre-colonial period; 8. The collapse of Syrian Christian 'integration'; 9. The Christian Paravas of southern Tamilnad; 10. Christian saints and gurus in the poligar country; 11. Christianity and colonial rule in the Tamil hinterland; 12. Conclusion; Bibliography.