Gujarat is one of the most industrialised and prosperous of the states comprising the Indian Union. In social terms, however, the all-round development of the state has been accompanied by a widening gap between a wealthy and dominant middle class, and the vast labouring classes whose important contribution to the phenomenal growth of the state has been without commensurate returns in terms either of incomes or the quality of their lives. Conceived as a festschrift in honour of Jan Breman, this multidisciplinary volume provides an incisive analysis of various aspects of present-day Gujarati society. By concentrating on the conditions of Dalits, tribals, landless agricultural labourers and industrial workers, the 16 original essays gathered here provide a vivid account of the paradoxes and social consequences of both industrial and agricultural growth. Reflecting the main elements of Professor Breman’s singular contribution to the study of Gujarat, the major themes discussed are: The contradictions of capitalist development, Rural and urban labour relations, The causes of deprivation and modes of protest amongst the subalterns, The causes and consequences of migration, both internal and international Overall, this important volume provides numerous and valuable insights into the social and economic processes at work in present-day Gujarat. It will, therefore, be of considerable interest to students and scholars of sociology, social anthropology, political science, economics and labour studies as also to all those interested in contemporary Gujarat.
There are no reviews yet.