The Scheduled Castes in Modern Indian Politics: The Emergence as a Political Power

$32
Item Code: ISA27
Publisher: Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
Author: S.K. Gupta
Language: English
Edition: 1985
ISBN: 8121500958
Pages: 366
Cover: Hardcover
Other Details 8.9" X 5.9"
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Book Description
About the Book

This study presents a detailed analysis of the multifaceted struggle of the Scheduled Castes, the odyssey of their transformation from an apolitical, ostracized and indigent mass into a crucial factor in the political structure. It examines the inter-play of the forces, generated both by the British Raj and the changing complexion of the Indian national movement, which helped their emergence as a political power in India.

How was the most apposite appellation, the 'Scheduled Castes', coined? What were the measures adopted for arriving at their exact enumeration? How was it affected by the 'politics of numbers'? What was their socio-economic condition at the turn of the Century? What was its impact on the process of their politicization and political participation? How did they become an important factor both in the Indian national movement and the politics of the period? What was the pattern of their politics? How far were the ideas, strategies, and ends and means of their mentors in conflict with those of the caste Hindu leaders and the nationalists?

These are some of the basic questions this study probes and seeks to answer. All through, the study is backed by sound scholarship and critical sensitivity.

It is the firs study of its kinds in that it (i) traces the chequered career of the term 'Scheduled Castes'; (ii) conducts a province-wise survey of their socio-economic condition; (iii) examines the manipulation of Scheduled Castes' census in the game of the 'politics of numbers'; and (iv) highlights the part played by Baba Saheb Dr. B. R. Ambedkar as also by other prominent leaders, especially, M.C. Rajah, who have hitherto remained ignored.

The work is well documented and makes use of all the available archival, official and non-official sources.

About the Author

Dr. S. K. Gupta, Associate Professor in Himanchal Pradesh University, Shimla also head the department of history in the Correspondence Courses. He has authored A Map Approach to Indian History (Simla, 1975) and four chapters to Himachal: Past, Present and Future (Simla, 1975). Presently Dr. Gupta is a Fellow of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study and is working on his new project 'Reservations in Services - A Study in Socio-Economic and Political conditions 1920-80.'

CONTENTS

List of Tablesvii
Abbreviationsviii
Prefacexi
CHAPTER 1
The Search for a Name

Indian Society; Social Framework
The Trodden Worm Turns
The Depressed Classes; Connotations and Criteria
Opposition to Term Quest for a Befitting Alternative

1
CHAPTER 2
The Politics of Numbers: Census Operations and the Depressed Class

Beginning of Census in India
The Politics of Census
The Recognition of the Importance of Census by the Depressed Class
An Attempt at the Precise Enumerations; Indian Franchise Committee

36
CHAPTER 3
Socio-Economic Condition of the Depressed Classes in 1916

Madras
Bombay and Central Provinces and Berar
Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, and Assam
United Provinces of Agra and Awadh
Panjab

71
CHAPTER 4
Initiation of the Depressed Class into Politics

Socio-Economic Condition and Political Political Participation
Circumstances Leading to Their Political Participation
The Establishment of the British Raj
Socio-Religious Reforms: The Indian National Congress and the Depressed Class;
The National Social Conference and the Depressed Class
New Needs, New Treatment
Increasing Political Importance of the Depressed Class and Their Initiation into Politics
The Morley-Minto Reforms
The Depressed Classes and the Swadeshi and Home Rule Movement

142
CHAPTER 5
Towards Establishing a Political Identity

The Untouchables and the Non-Brahman Movement
August 1917 Declaration and Political Activity Amongst the Depressed classes
Reaction to Montagu-Chelmsford Report
Evidence Before the Southborough Committee
Reaction to the Recommendations of Southborough Committee
Joint Parliamentary Committee and the Depressed Classes
Position of the Depressed Classes Under Government of India Act 1919
II The Depressed Class and the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms
The Depressed Classes and the Anti-British Agitation
The Depressed classes and the Non-Cooperation Movement
Congress Efforts to Ameliorate the Condition of the Depressed class
III From Consciousness to Organized Protest and Dissent
Protection of the Depressed Class Interests in the Legislature
Assertion of Civic Right by the Depressed Classes
Caste Hindu Reaction and the Fight Ahead

182
CHAPTER 6
Towards a Transformation of Political Status

Reaction of the Depressed Class to the All-White Commission
Nehru Report and the Depressed Class
The Depressed Classes Present Their Case
Political Advancement and the Depressed Class
Reaction of the Depressed Class to the Simon Commission's Report
Recommendations of the Indian Central Committee and Depressed Class
Convening of the Round Table Conference and the Untouchables
Civil Disobedience Movement and the Depressed Class
The Depressed Classes Demand Fair Representation on the R.T.C.
Ambedkar and Srinivasan Plead at the R.T.C
Ambedkar and the Political Advancement
Outcome of the First Session of the R.T.C
Communal Tangle and the Depressed Classes
Indian Franchise Committee and the Depressed Class
Reaction of the Depressed Class to the Communal Award
Mahatma Gandhi's Resistance to Separate Representation
Towards the Poona Pact
Caste Hindu Reaction of the Poona Pact
Reaction to the Depressed Class to the Poona Pact
Recommendations of the Joint Select Committee
Political Status of the Scheduled Castes Under the Act of 1935
II Towards an Exclusive Depressed Classes Movement
Schism the Movement

236
Bibliography

333
Index

343

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