Abstract
Space and status are inextricably related to each other. Though space is a geographic entity, human society has a tendency to transform it into a socio-cultural phenomenon. Such a process of appropriation of space refers to trends of social change and status- formation. Space-segregation thus implies 'social distance'. Underlying a given space- segregation, one can see the structure of society in terms of the ramifications of caste, class and ethnicity. Our study of Chanderi, a small town in Madhya Pradesh, shows that segregated mohallas (neighbourhoods) and galis (lanes) largely correspond with graded social divisions based on caste and community. Space-segregation and com mensurate social divisions do not obstruct the incorporation of modernity in the social fabric of the town.
Our study also shows that space is not static. It is made and remade in accordance with the dynamics of social relations and status-formation. Since space is social, it is appropriated by the privileged sections of society to their advantage. As such, tradition has a considerable hold in Chanderi. To a certain extent tradition also prevails over modernity in Chanderi in terms of the patron-client ties between the master-weavers and weavers with regard to saree production and trade. Mohallas and galis continue to correspond with the ranking of the patrons and clients (master-weavers and weavers) or the upper and the lower casteslcommunities, including Muslims.
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