Class, Caste, Gender

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, which is the fifth in the series entitled readings in Indian Government and politics, 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 contributors treat the centrality of power as the organizing theme. They then discuss ideas, institutions and practices as arenas of contestation 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 structures, dominant and oppressed social forces, and institutional and cultural processes, and provide both macro and micro perspectives. This volume brings together the writings of some of the most distinguished and influential scholars who have contributed significantly to the social and political discourse on contemporary India. The many unique insights that they provide make this book of considerable interest to those in the fields of politics, sociology, economics, social movements and women’s studies. It will also serve as essential reading for both undergraduate and postgraduate students of political science.