Book Details

• Author: Ghanshyam Shah

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Language: English

• Edition: Revised and Updated

• ISBN: 9788131612903

• Pages: 284

• Cover: Hardcover

• Release Date: 01-01-2023

About the Book

This thoroughly revised and updated edition by Ghanshyam Shah offers a comprehensive and analytical overview of social movements in India, focusing on non-institutionalised collective political action aimed at bringing about political and social change. Although India has a long history of such movements, it is only in recent decades that they have received serious scholarly attention.

The book categorizes Indian social movements into nine key participant-based groups: peasants, tribals, dalits, backward castes, women, students, middle class, working class, and human rights and environmental activists. Each chapter is systematically organized around the core components of social movements—issues, ideology, organisation, and leadership—allowing readers to grasp the dynamics and evolution of each movement.

Covering the timeline from 1857 to the present, the book critically engages with theoretical perspectives and examines the major trends that have shaped the Indian socio-political landscape. Ghanshyam Shah evaluates the existing literature, identifies gaps, and offers thoughtful suggestions for future research.

A highly readable and well-structured study, this book serves as an essential resource for students, scholars, activists, and anyone interested in the transformative role of social movements in modern India. It is also an invaluable academic text for courses on social movements, political sociology, and modern Indian history.

Contents

• Introduction

• Peasant Movements

• Tribal Movements

• Dalit Movements

• Backward Caste/Class Movements

• Women’s Movements

• Industrial Working Class Movements

• Students’ Movements

• Middle Class Movements

• Human Rights and Environmental Movements

• Conclusions and Future Research

About the Author

Ghanshyam Shah is an eminent scholar and independent researcher based in Ahmedabad. He formerly served as Professor of Social Sciences at the Centre of Social Medicine and Community Health, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. He was also the Director of the Centre for Social Studies, Surat, and held the Dr. Ambedkar Chair Professorship (1996–97) at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie. His academic contributions have significantly influenced the study of social justice and collective action in India.