Caste and Class in India

Book Details:

• Editor: K.L. Sharma

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Language: English

• ISBN: 9788170334811

• Cover: Paperback

• Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches

• Pages: 450

About the Book:
Caste and Class in India, edited by K.L. Sharma, is a profound and comprehensive examination of the complex interplay between caste and class in Indian society. Drawing from a national seminar, the book features insightful papers from experts across nine states, offering a historical and contemporary perspective on the caste-class nexus in India.

The contributors analyze how caste and class have evolved in different regions, shedding light on the diverse socio-political dynamics across India. The book explores topics such as anti-Brahmin movements, feudalism, landholding, and political power, focusing on states like West Bengal, Bihar, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh. The papers highlight how caste, while seemingly in decline, remains intricately tied to political and economic power, often being manipulated by certain groups for their benefit.

This anthology is essential reading for scholars, students, and policymakers, offering invaluable insights into the continuing relevance of caste and class in shaping modern India. It will be especially useful for those researching social stratification, social movements, and the evolving nature of Indian society.

Contents:

• Caste, Class and Politics in Colonial Bengal: A Case Study of the Namasudra Movement of 1872–1937 – Sekhar Bandyopadhyay

• Caste and Power in West Bengal – Ranabir Samaddar

• Caste-Class Situation in Rural West Bengal – Srijnan Halder

• Caste, Class and Landholding in the Analysis of Technology and Agricultural Production in Bihar – Shaibal Gupta

• The Orissan Society: Past Trends and Present Manifestations – Bhairabi Prasad Sahu

• Caste and Kulaks in Eastern India: A Comparison of Bihar, Orissa and West Bengal – Anjan Ghosh

• Kanshi Ram and the Bahujan Samaj Party – Gail Omvedt

• Caste, Land and Political Power in Uttar Pradesh – Imtiaz Ahmad and N.C. Saxena

• Feudalism, Caste and Class in Rajasthan – K.L. Sharma

• Caste Sentiments, Class Formation and Dominance in Gujarat – Ghanshyam Shah

• Caste and Class in Maharashtra – Rajaendra Vora and Suhas Palshikar

• Agrarian Tensions in Rural Marathwada: A Case of the Shiv Sena – Surendra Jondhale

• Growth, Inequities and Tensions: A Case Study of Sangli District, Maharashtra – S.P. Punalekar

• Caste, Class and Politics in the Tanneries of Kolhapur – Gopal Guru

• Caste and Land in Colonial South India – A. Nagaraja Naidu

• Caste and Class in Rural Andhra: A Historical Perspective – A. Satyanarayana

• The Formation of Caste Society in Kerala: Historical Antecedents – Rajan Gurukkal

• Caste-Class Situation in India – A.B. Bardhan

• Caste, Class and Social Consciousness: Reflections on Contemporary Indian Situation – Javeed Alam

About the Author / Editor:
K.L. Sharma is the Vice Chancellor at the University of Rajasthan, Jaipur. He has previously served as a Professor of Sociology at the Centre for the Study of Social Systems, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. A renowned scholar in social stratification and social movements, he has authored several books and papers. He has also been a visiting faculty at Collège de France in Paris (1991-92 and 1996-97).