Caste and Democratic Politics in India

by Shah, Ghanshyam

• ISBN13: 9781843310860
• ISBN10: 1843310864
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-12-01
• Publisher: Anthem Pr

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
1 Introduction: Caste and Democratic Politics
GHANSHYAM SHAH	1	(26)
Part I THE MEANINGS OF CASTE
Introduction	27	(98)
2 Features of the Caste System
G.S. GHURYE	29	(15)
3 Hierarchy: The Theory of the 'Varna'
LOUIS DUMONT	44	(12)
4 Caste Must Go
M.K. GANDHI	56	(3)
5 Caste in India
B.R. AMBEDKAR	59	(20)
6 Ram-Manohar Lohia on Caste in Indian Politics
D.L. SHETH	79	(21)
7 Caste, Class and Property Relations
B.T. RANADIVE	100	(25)
Part II THE DIFFUSION OF POWER
Introduction	125	(51)
8 The Transformation of Authority in Rural India
OLIVER MENDELSOHN	127	(31)
9 Caste and Class: Social Reality and Political Representations
D.L. SHETH	158	(18)
10 Federating for Political Interests: The Kshatriyas of Gujarat
RAJNI KOTHARI AND RUSHIKESH MARU	176	(25)
Part III CASTE AND POLITICAL PROCESSES
Introduction	201	(1)
11 Pragmatic Progressives in Regional Politics: The Case of Devraj Urs
JAMES MANOR	202	(18)
12 The BJP and Backward Castes in Gujarat
GHANSHYAM SHAH	220	(15)
13 New Phase in Backward Caste Politics in Bihar, 1990-2000
SANJAY KUMAR	235	(34)
14 Dalit Assertion through Electoral Politics
PUSHPENDRA	269	(26)
Part IV CASTE AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION Introduction	295	(36)
15 Social Backwardness and the Politics of Reservations
GHANSHYAM SHAH	296	(20)
16 The Anti-Caste Movement and the Discourse of Power
GAIL OMVEDT	316	(15)
Appendix to Chapter 16	331	(5)
Notes	336	(25)
Select Bibliography	361