Rajni Kothari's seminal work, Caste in Indian Politics , argues that democracy and caste are not mutually exclusive, but rather interact dynamically through the "politicisation of caste," where traditional social structures adapt to serve as vehicles for modern political mobilization and representation. Kothari identifies three key forms of this interaction—secular, integrationist, and ideational—which explain how caste identity transforms from a ritualistic hierarchy into a powerful tool for interest-group politics and democratic participation. This foundational analysis remains critical for understanding the mechanics of coalition building and electoral behavior in contemporary Indian politics. Share public link
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The PDF file you're exploring—"Rajni Kothari Caste in Indian Politics 15.pdf"—is a digital version of one of the most influential works in modern Indian political science. First published in 1970 (reprinted in 1973) by Orient Longman, and later released in a revised second edition in 2010 with a prologue by James Manor, this landmark edited volume fundamentally reshaped how scholars, policymakers, and citizens understand the relationship between India's ancient social hierarchy and its modern democratic institutions. Instead of viewing caste as a relic destined to disappear with modernization, Kothari argued that caste and politics have become deeply intertwined in a dynamic two-way process—one that has transformed both institutions in profound and enduring ways. Share public link This public link is valid
For those interested in exploring Kothari's work in greater depth, "Caste in Indian Politics" is available for download in PDF format from various online sources, including the Internet Archive (archive.org) and Google Books (books.google.com).
Chatterjee, P. (1999). A Nation of Brothers and Sisters: The Making of Indian Politics. Delhi: Permanent Black.