United They Survive examines the relationship between rural elites and the impoverished majority in contemporary Bangladesh. This relationship is both demonstrated and reinforced by the traditional practices of "dana-pana" (giving-taking) and "dan-khairat" (redistribution) that operates between the classes. Showkat Khan argues that the culturally mandated redistribution of wealth from rich to poor is not only vital to the survival of most rural Bangladeshis but also determines the shape of local politics. Moreover, these redistributive practices instill a sense of unity among members of the village community, regardless of personal wealth or status. This book will have especially strong appeal for anthropologists, international social workers, scholars of South Asia, and community organizers in the United States and abroad.
