India's silent revolution : the rise of the lower castes in North India
India has long been dominated by the upper castes, whose influence permeates society at every level. Since the 1960s a new assertiveness has characterized this formerly silenced majority and the author of this text argues that this trend constitutes a genuine "democratization" of India.
XIV, 505 p. 22 cm
9781850653981, 9781850656708, 1850653984, 1850656703
433925039
Congress domination and conservative democracy: the ideological roots of Indian democracy's social deficit; discources and practices; congress - party of the intelligentsia or of the notables?; the co-option of scheduled Caste leaders and the "Coalition of Extremes"; Indira Gandhi and the aborted reforms of congress. The second age of Indian democracy: from reluctant to compeling Caste-based affirmative action; two strategies - quota politics and Kisan politics; the Janta Dal and the empowerment of the Low Castes; the BSP - not just a Dalit party; the Upper Castes' political resilience - congress and the BJP coping with the Mandal Commission.