Class, Caste, Gender (Readings in Indian Government and Politics series)

Contemporary India’s political landscape is characterized by a great deal of social upheaval. This is the result of growing democratic consciousness which is increasingly conflicting with the forces of domination, authoritarianism and hegemony. Against this backdrop, this volume provides an understanding of these forces in both historical and analytical terms. In particular, the seminal essays gathered here explore the specificities of the crucial social categories of class, caste and gender, while simultaneously drawing attention to the arenas in which they intersect. Extrait de la couverture : "Contemporary India's political landscape is characterized by a great deal of social upheaval. This is the result of growing democratic consciousness which is increasingly conflicting with the forces of domnation, authoritarianism and hegemony. Against this backdrop. this volume provides an understanding of these forces in both historical and analytical terms. In particular, the seminal essays gathered here explore the specificities of the crucial social categories of class, caste and gender, while simultaneously drawing attention to the arenas in which they intersect. The contributars treat the centrality of power as the organizing theme. They then discuss ideas, institutions and practices as arenas of constestation both in themselves and in relation to one another. Hence, they study the state, social processes and political movements in relation to the struggles for transformation being waged by women, disadvantaged castes and oppressed classes. The contributors also analyse basic conceptual issues and place them in the context of social ferment and recent political developments. They take care to provide as comprehensive a framework as possible. Accordingly, they tackle both rural and urban power structure, dominant and oppresed social forces, and institutional and cultural processes, and provide both macro and micro perspectives." Contents List of Tables and Figures Preface by the Series Editors Preface 1 - Introduction: Dimensions of Power and Social Transformation Part I: Class Structure and the State 2 - Caste and Agrarian Class: A View from Bihar 3 - The Political Economy of the Economic Reform Strategy: The Role of the Indian Capitalist Class 4 - The Working Class Movement in India: Trade Unions and the State Part II: Caste Domination and Political Power 5 - Castes in India: Their Mechanism, Genesis and Development 6 - Caste in Modern India 7 - Caste in Indian Politics 8 - Reservations Policy Revisited 9 - Caste or Class or Caste–Class: A Study in Dalitbahujan Consciousness and Struggles in Andhra Pradesh in 1980s 10 - The Language of Dalitbahujan Political Discourse Part III: Gender Inequality and Social Change 11 - Conceptualizing Brahmanical Patriarchy in Early India: Gender, Caste, Class and State 12 - An Overview of the Status of Women in India 13 - Women and People’s Movement: A Space within the Struggle 14 - Gender Inequality and Women’s Agency 15 - Conclusion: Social Movements in a Creative Society Appendix Select Readings About the Editor and Contributors Index

This volume of essays looks into the dynamic interconnection of class, caste and gender in the Indian political process. The focus is on interconnection (that is a relationship involving more than one category), while at the same time trying to understand each category by itself.

The complex issues of caste, gender and class have been studied through a collection of essays that look into the people's struggle for social equality. Social oppression has been analyzed in the context of protests against such exploitation. Anti-caste movements and women's movements have been studied in much detail.

The volume is divided into five sections and well-known specialists have contributed pertinent essays. This important book will contribute immensely in the understanding of the contemporary Indian political process.

Editor Manoranjan Mohanty. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [417]-422) And Index.