Rajni Kothari Caste In Indian Politics 15.pdf Jun 2026

For students of Indian politics, sociology, or comparative democratization, engaging with this text is not merely an academic exercise. It is an encounter with one of the most influential intellectual frameworks for understanding how India's ancient social hierarchies continue to shape—and be shaped by—the world's largest democracy. The PDF preserves this intellectual legacy for a new generation of readers, ensuring that Kothari's insights remain accessible and relevant for decades to come.

This study examines the Mahars of Maharashtra, a community prominently associated with Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. It provides a historical account of how this Scheduled Caste group learned to use political mobilization as a tool for social uplift and assertion, laying the groundwork for later Dalit politics. Rajni Kothari Caste In Indian Politics 15.pdf

In "Caste in Indian Politics" (1970), Rajni Kothari argues that the interaction between traditional caste structures and modern democracy leads to the "politicization of caste," where caste functions as a crucial organizing unit for political mobilization. Kothari contends that this process enables the secularization of caste, transforming traditional identities into interest groups seeking power, education, and representation within a democratic framework. A digital version of this work can be found at Internet Archive KOTHARI, (ed.), "Caste in Indian Politics" (Book Review) For students of Indian politics, sociology, or comparative

At the heart of Kothari's analysis is a powerful rejection of what he calls the "prevailing dichotomy between traditional society and modern polity". He argued that this intellectual habit—treating society as "traditional" and the political system as "modern" and "developmental"—creates a "curious cognitive hiatus" that prevents genuine understanding of how societies actually modernize. This study examines the Mahars of Maharashtra, a

—This chapter examines one of the most significant caste movements in modern Indian history. The Mahars, a Scheduled Caste community in Maharashtra, were led by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in a remarkable political mobilization that culminated in the conversion to Buddhism in 1956. Zelliot traces how the Mahars learned to use political means—petitions, electoral participation, and organized protest—to challenge their traditional subordination. This case study illuminates how marginalized groups can leverage democratic institutions to demand dignity and rights.

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