A Left Front Election

This chapter discusses the electoral ethnography of a campaign in the state of West Bengal. It presents a thick ethnographic description of the campaigning process and traces the numerous techniques used. The political messages and organisational hierarchies at every level of the state's population help in answering why incumbent governments suffer repeated electoral defeats.

The Blind Side of Globalisation: Auditing Merchant Producers in India’s Export Sector

This chapter discusses globalisation and the export sector of India, looking at employment and economic growth in the country. It starts with a study of the rise of small-scale industries, which are part of the fastest expanding sector in India. Merchant producerism and cheap labour is discussed, followed by globalisation and social audits. Child labour, contract labour, the absent present worker, and overtime are some of the topics discussed as well. Finally, the chapter ends by determining whether globalisation has made a difference in the economy of India.

The Challenge of Representing the Complex Reality of India

This chapter discusses the challenge of representing the complex reality of India. It presents notable conclusions from the previous chapters, which provide information on India's society, politics, demography, and culture. It provides a little context to these past discussions, in order to provide a little more coherence and a better understanding of the study.

Costly Absences, Coercive Presences: Health Care in Rural North India

This chapter discusses health care in rural north India. It examines the access of villagers in the Bijnor district of western Uttar Pradesh to health care during the early 2000s. The liberalisation, health care, and health status in India is studied, along with the declining state investment in health services. Limiting fertility and removing polio in India is examined in the latter portion of the chapter.

The Rise of Caste Politics: Party System Change and Voter Realignment, 1962–2004

This chapter explores the relationship formed between the social structure of India and its contemporary patterns. It tries to show how this relates to the theories of social cleavage alignment, and examines change in the cleavage structure of party competition. The chapter also discusses how different contemporary patterns of political conflict in India are from those of the past.

Unequal Opportunities: Class, Caste and Social Mobility1

This chapter discusses intergenerational class mobility, which is the extent to which sons — and even daughters — follow in their father's footsteps. It asks how ‘open’ India is, and whether it is becoming more ‘open’ with greater equality of opportunity as it slowly modernises. The discussion is limited to the patterns of intergenerational mobility of men and women who are actually in paid employment.

Economic Resurgence, Lopsided Reform and Jobless Growth

This chapter discusses the economic growth of India after gaining its independence. It shows that there was growth and poverty reduction after 1980 and looks at the concept of macroeconomic balance. Structural reform is also discussed in the chapter. It is determined that in the second half of India's post-independence career, growth has increased dramatically as a consequence of economic reform. This reform was able to unshackle the economy from the firm grip of controls and exposed it to international competition.

Incongruities, Ironies and Achievements: India’s Tryst with Modernity

This chapter introduces the economic, social, and political aspects of Indian modernities. It considers the question of uneven modernisation and studies the sphere of politics. The Indian economy and reform is discussed in detail as well.

Understanding Popular Politics: Caste, Kinship and Factionalism among Yadavs in North India

This chapter discusses the rise of caste politics and the dynamics of Indian popular politics in the 1990s, specifically in the state of Uttar Pradesh. It shows how the interrelation between vernacular socio-cultural idioms and structures have been vital to make ‘democracy’ a part of the Indian political imagination. These have also been used to give information about the political upsurge of the common people and the shaping of political cleavages based on caste or community.

The Die is Cast(e): The Debate on Backward Caste/Class Quotas, 1990 and 20061

This chapter discusses the controversy generated by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government's decision to extend reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in higher education. It looks at two issues that have dominated Indian policy debates with regards to reservations for OBCs. The first issue is about whether caste is an indicator of disadvantage, while the second issue pertains to the conception of backwardness. The chapter shows that many issues still remain unresolved, such as the position of the more affluent segments and the position of minorities.