The Political Role of India's Caste Associations

Rudolph, Lloyd I.; Rudolph, Susanne Hoeber

doi:10.2307/2753645

Cited by 38 publications

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“…2 Such a society has been operating in a growing politically conscious, openly vocal and increasingly mixed sociopolitical arena, or the 'public sphere' (Sen 2005;Nussbaum 2007). 3 Th e old logic of social diff erence has not altogether vanished, critics tell us: old castes have closed their ranks and new castes, caste associations and even conglomerate 'super castes' have emerged (e.g., Rudolph and Rudolph 1960;Michelutti 2007). But castes have gradually transformed from the ranked, interdependent communities of old into increasingly free-standing, internally mixed and egalitarian associations, akin to ethnic groups, competing for political and economic resources (Chandra 2004: esp.…”

Section: India and The Idea Of The Public Spherementioning

confidence: 99%

Where Is the Public Sphere?: Political Communications and the Morality of Disclosure in Rural Rajasthan

Piliavsky¹

2013

The Cambridge Journal of Anthropology

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Th e public sphere has been centre stage in celebrations of India's political triumphs. Leading commentators tell us that the astonishing post-independence surge of democracy has been contingent on the rise of a new kind of sociopolitical formation: the public sphere. Th is paper takes a closer look at the popular deliberative terrain in North India to question this claim. Drawing on research conducted in a provincial town in the North Indian state of Rajasthan, we see that where metropolitan political theorists see 'transparency' as promoting discursive and political possibilities, Rajasthani villagers see an exposure which prevents expression, communication and the making of political choices. In their view, it is secrecy and social seclusion that enable political interactions and elicit political judgments. 'Th e public sphere' is an unfi t heuristic for locating popular politics within (and beyond) Rajasthan, where it obscures much more than it reveals.

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Section: India and The Idea Of The Public Spherementioning

confidence: 99%

Where Is the Public Sphere?: Political Communications and the Morality of Disclosure in Rural Rajasthan

Piliavsky¹

2013

The Cambridge Journal of Anthropology

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“…The amalgamation of diverse jati loyalties into politically powerful caste alliances (Kothari 1970;Rudolph and Rudolph 1960) is unthinkable without a prior Substantialisation process that undermines the economically interdependent caste system based on hierarchy, as described in the classical interpretation. In the modern re-interpretation, however, caste is to a large extent compatible with democratic institutions and highly influential.…”

Section: Caste and Modernity-implications For The Futurementioning

confidence: 99%

Towards a comprehensive model of caste

Lindt

2013

Contributions to Indian Sociology

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This article attempts to pioneer a better theoretical understanding of the social institution of caste. It argues that caste, in contrast to more conventional perspectives, is not a monolithic institution, but rather a compromise between economic, biological and ideational aspects of human existence. In its most abstract and basic form, caste systematically connects competing rationales-economic interdependence with biological separation-by a specific form of rationalisation. However, within the process of modernisation, the economic element is increasingly losing its importance, while the biological aspect of caste survives only in connection with a reduced, non-systematic form of rationalisation.In its theoretical design, this model offers an opportunity to understand caste quite differently from that presented by conventional definitions. By breaking this institution into its essential ingredients, it is receptive to the inherent breaks and frictions of caste and hence, can account for the changes that caste is going through. Applied to the existing theories of caste and empirical research, it can provide the theoretical tools for a meta-analysis of all interpretations of caste and a guideline for empirical research on caste in modernity.Keywords: Model of caste, post-Dumontian theory, caste in modernity I Does anyone really need yet another theory of caste?If quantity is any indicator, the institution of caste has received more than its due share of attention. There are countless anthropological studies on caste in empirical settings, innumerable writings on caste relations in villages or restricted localities and numerous personal insiders' descriptions.

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“…Among people in menial or traditional occupations and those who have retained strong rural ties, status enhancement may be most attainable and relevant through Sanskritization-conformity to a high status traditional ideal of behavior. To some who regard themselves as discriminated against but who are numerous and/or well organized and cognizant of common interest, organization into caste associations (Rudolph and Rudolph 1960), into ethnic nationalist movements (Orans 1965;cf. Geertz 1963), into political action groups, into unions and the like, is most advantageous.…”

Section: Urban India: Categories a N D Interaction 577mentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Categories and Social Interaction in Urban India¹

Berreman

1972

American Anthropologist

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Categories into which people classify themselves and others in a North Indian city were collected, together with identifying characteristics and stereotypes. Utilizing a s y m boiic interactionist Perspective, these were analyzed with reference t o social behavior: the manner in which interaction was conditioned or influenced by the system of social categories and the meanings attached t o them. The complexity o f the terminological system, its variability and manipulability, the crucial importance of situation and audience. and the tenuous relationship between terminology and behavior were revealed.

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The Political Role of India's Caste Associations

Cited by 38 publications

References 0 publications

Where Is the Public Sphere?: Political Communications and the Morality of Disclosure in Rural Rajasthan

Where Is the Public Sphere?: Political Communications and the Morality of Disclosure in Rural Rajasthan

Towards a comprehensive model of caste

Social Categories and Social Interaction in Urban India¹

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The Political Role of India's Caste Associations

Cited by 38 publications

References 0 publications

Where Is the Public Sphere?: Political Communications and the Morality of Disclosure in Rural Rajasthan

Where Is the Public Sphere?: Political Communications and the Morality of Disclosure in Rural Rajasthan

Towards a comprehensive model of caste

Social Categories and Social Interaction in Urban India1

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Social Categories and Social Interaction in Urban India¹