Caste and Democratic Politics in India

by
Edition: Reprint
Format: Hardcover
Pub. Date: 2004-11-01
Publisher(s): Anthem Pr
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Summary

The Indian constitution seeks to prevent the perpetuation of caste and build a casteless social system. But in over half a century since Indian independence, this has not been achieved and does not seem likely in the near future. Therefore, no understanding of Indian politics is possible without a thorough understanding of the complexities of the caste system. The aim of this four-part book is to bring about such an understanding. It begins by examining the various meanings attached to the notion of caste. The essay and book extracts in this first section include classic writings on caste such as those by G S Ghurye, Louis Dumont, Mahatma Gandhi and B R Ambedkar. The second part consists of essays that demonstrate the relationship between caste and power. The third part comprises material that investigates caste and various Indian political practices on the ground. The fourth, on caste and social transformation, includes discussion on one of the most salient topics in contemporary Indian politics, namely, the issue of reservations for socially backward castes.

Author Biography

Ghanshyam Shah is Professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He has edited and written numerous books and essays on the subject of class, caste and politics in India.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements vii
List of Contributors
viii
Introduction: Caste and Democratic Politics
1(28)
Ghanshyam Shah
Part I THE MEANINGS OF CASTE
Introduction
27(2)
Features of the Caste System
29(15)
G.S. Ghurye
Hierarchy: The Theory of the `Varna'
44(12)
Louis Dumont
Caste Must Go
56(3)
M.K. Gandhi
Caste in India
59(20)
B.R. Ambedkar
Ram-Manohar Lohia on Caste in Indian Politics
79(21)
D.L. Sheth
Caste, Class and Property Relations
100(27)
B.T. Ranadive
Part II THE DIFFUSION OF POWER
Introduction
125(2)
The Transformation of Authority in Rural India
127(31)
Oliver Mendelsohn
Caste and Class: Social Reality and Political Representations
158(18)
D.L. Sheth
Federating for Political Interests: The Kshatriyas of Gujarat
176(26)
Rajni Kothari
Rushikesh Maru
Part III CASTE AND POLITICAL PROCESSES
Introduction
201(1)
Pragmatic Progressives in Regional Politics: The Case of Devraj Urs
202(18)
James Manor
The BJP and Backward Castes in Gujarat
220(15)
Ghanshyam Shah
New Phase in Backward Caste Politics in Bihar, 1990--2000
235(34)
Sanjay Kumar
Dalit Assertion through Electoral Politics
269(27)
Pushpendra
Part IV CASTE AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION
Introduction
295(1)
Social Backwardness and the Politics of Reservations
296(20)
Ghanshyam Shah
The Anti-Caste Movement and the Discourse of Power
316(15)
Gail Omvedt
Appendix to Chapter 16 331(5)
Notes 336(25)
Select Bibliography 361

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