ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that rigid networks and homophilous-embeddedness can weaken even a seemingly prosperous group, regardless of industry performance. On a broader plane, this chapter also allows for a study on complex social relations influencing economic relations and technological progress when these relations are relayed across generations. It studies why the example of the Saliyars is counter to the evidence in the literature on adoption of handloom innovations, that community cohesion and technological progress has been congruent and harmonious among handloom weaver communities in India. We investigate into the centrality of their community social capital and, more importantly, inherited homophilous-embeddedness in their networks.
