Dalits in Indian Democracy: a Study of Punjab Politics [Hardcover]

ABOUT THE BOOK: The challenge of casteism is the major threat to Indian democracy. It weakens the functioning and stability of democratic system. Dalit politics in India seems to be informed by a similar kind of understanding of caste. The book explored the history of caste system and democracy in India with the views of social and political anthropologists. It is an effort to trace an egalitarian path between the two opposed values – caste system and democracy. Dalit assertion has been one of the most significant features of the society and polity of Punjab. In spite of the highest Scheduled Castes' population, the Bahujan Samaj Party has not marked a space in Punjab politics. This book is concerned as to why this numerical strength of Scheduled Castes' population has not converted into the seats for the Bahujan Samaj Party. The book is an attempt to begin to fill this gap. To unravel this puzzle, the book presented a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between social cleavages and party support. The book is based on field survey; it studied the nature of caste system in India with special reference to the State of Punjab; Socioeconomic and religious profile of Dalits; the support base of the Bahujan Samaj Party among the Scheduled Castes in Punjab and the support base of Scheduled Castes among the two major political parties in Punjab – the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal. Hence the book will not only fill the gap but will also throw new insights with regard to the mobilization, organization and political strategy of any political party in India.