Contents: Note on Transliteration and Dates Acknowledgements Abstract, Abbreviations, Introduction, Towns and Cities, Political Economy, Religious Institutions, Caste, Religion, and Social Identitites, Communal Ineractions and Conflict, Law and Everyday Practices, Sources and Methodology, The Setting, Plan of the Dissertation, 1. All the Kings'Grants: Ajmer and Pushkar, 1560-1800, Introduction, Shared Ethics of Patronage and Politics, The Setting, Methodology and Sources, Making Ajmer Mughal, c. 1560-1707, The Rise of Rajput States and the Ajmer Shrine, c. 1707-1743, The Creation of Bari Basti and Choti Basti, c. 1700-1800, Maratha Administration in Ajmer and Pushkar, c. 1749-1818, Conclusion 2. Firzadas and the Art of Securing Patronage, 1560-1800 Introduction, Medieval Nagaur's Religious Institutions Challenges and Opportunities: Changing Politics and Patronage in Nagaur, Proximate and Remote Relations: Lineage and the Borders of Community Political Ties: Access to Grants, Justice and Information, Conclulsion. 3. Conflict and the Limits of Shared Space Introduction, Section l. Shared Water Resources in Nagaur an Urban Commons Conflict at Durlaya Pond Soyereignty, Religion, and Water Related Conflicts over Resources Conflicts, Caste and Community Relations Section ll. Social Divisions and Conflict in Holi Processions the Absence of Hindu-Muslim Conflict, Conclusion 4. Property, Community and Neighborbood Segregation: Introduction, Defining Neighborhood Segregation and Urban Upheaval in the Eighteenth Century, Constructing Community, The Nature of Property Transactions, Mortgages and Money lenders, Ancestral Homes, The Siege of Nagaur and the Remaking of Khatripura, Conclusion, Glossary, Bibliography, Appendix