CASTE AND CLASS IDEOLOGY IN CONTEMPORARY INDIA

Book Details:

• Author: Vikramendra Kumar

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Language: English

• Edition: First Edition

• ISBN: 9788131614211

• Pages: 277

• Cover: Hardcover

• Release Date: 01-01-2025

About the Book

This insightful volume offers a critical exploration of how caste and class ideologies continue to shape contemporary Indian society. Caste and Class Ideology in Contemporary India opens with a comprehensive overview of theoretical frameworks to examine the origins, mechanisms, and continued influence of the caste system. It challenges the popular assumption that caste has been relegated to the past, arguing instead that it actively influences access to opportunities and socio-economic hierarchies even in post-liberalized India.

Drawing from interdisciplinary research across anthropology, economics, history, and political science, the book discusses caste’s enduring role in rural inequality, urban labor markets, and business sectors. It examines how caste functions both as a system of discrimination and privilege, with direct consequences on well-being and access to resources. The persistence of caste in electoral politics and its strategic use in political mobilization are also deeply analyzed.

Key themes include caste-based oppression, intersections of caste and gender, the defense of caste by Hindu nationalists, and the need for policy reform, particularly in informal and private sectors. The author argues for the inclusion of caste discourse in global development agendas, recognizing its deep impact across social, economic, and political spheres.

This book is a vital read for scholars, policymakers, and anyone interested in understanding the complex intersections of caste, class, and contemporary Indian identity.

Contents

• Introduction

• Discourse on Caste System

• Caste and Politics in India

• Defence of Caste System and Hindu Nationalists

• Caste-Based Oppression and Class Struggle

• Intersections of Caste and Gender

• Caste and its Economic Implications

• Caste in Modern India

• Conclusion

About the Author

Vikramendra Kumar is Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at the Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi. He has previously served at the Department of Anthropology, University of Hyderabad. His academic work spans sociology of religion, education, development, cultural identity, and socio-economic inequalities. Widely published, he also serves on editorial boards of reputed journals. His previous work includes Religion and Politics in the Modern World.