The essays in this volume are related to the study of religion and society in southern India. Professor Francis Robinson, a leading specialist of Islam has written the Foreword to this book. The key issues and themes of these essays, which actually form part of major academic debates include:

Origin, Ancestry and Identity of Hyder Ali

Tipu Sultan and the Christians of Southern India

Hindu Christian Interaction during French Rule in Pondicherry

Muslim Evolution and Conversions: The Karaikal Case

A Dravidian Muslim Sufi

Islamic and Christian-west Influence on Hinduism

Non-Brahmin Hindu Dravidians and Muslims in south India

Madras Presidency Muslims in the Employment Field

Elite Manipulation, Islamic Solidarity and the Territorial Factor: The Southern Angle

A Warrior Sufi of Tamilnadu: Story and Significance

Ashrafs of Southern India: The Madurai Case