—Rosenthal's comparative study of Agra (Uttar Pradesh) and Poona (Maharashtra) provides an urban perspective on caste and politics. His research found that in Agra, the Jatavs (Chamars) dominated the local unit of the Republican Party of India (RPI) and "seemed to treat it as an extension of the caste," while in Poona, the RPI was dominated by the Mahars. The chapter also revealed that lower-caste groups articulated caste identity more explicitly in political behavior than upper-caste groups, for whom caste influence often remained implicit.
To understand the book, one must first understand its editor. Rajni Kothari (1928–2015) was one of independent India's most distinguished political scientists and public intellectuals. He founded the in 1963, creating a premier institution dedicated to empirical research on Indian politics. Known for his refusal to fit Indian realities into Western theoretical boxes, Kothari developed the influential "Congress System" model to explain the unique dynamics of India's one-party dominance.
Instead, Kothari argued that in India, . Rather, they are synthesized in a unique way where the traditional "caste system" is used as the foundational structure of the modern "democratic system." Conclusion Rajni Kothari Caste In Indian Politics 15.pdf
More than five decades after its initial publication, Kothari's analysis remains remarkably pertinent. The "two-way process" he identified has only intensified. Caste continues to shape voting behavior, party formation, candidate selection, and policy debates across India. At the same time, democratic politics has profoundly transformed caste—empowering historically marginalized groups, creating new forms of caste-based political identity (such as the "Other Backward Classes" category), and generating intense competition among caste groups for political representation and state resources.
Rajni Kothari’s "Caste in Indian Politics" (1970) theorizes that Indian democracy functions through the "politicization of caste," where traditional caste structures are utilized for modern political mobilization, rather than disappearing. Kothari argues that this interaction, moving through stages of polarization and internal competition to secular integration, has enabled marginalized groups to enter the political process and strengthened democratic legitimacy. Read a summary of Kothari's work at Scribd . KOTHARI, (ed.), "Caste in Indian Politics" (Book Review) —Rosenthal's comparative study of Agra (Uttar Pradesh) and
Rajni Kothari's seminal 1970 work, Caste in Indian Politics , argued that caste and democracy in India formed a reciprocal relationship rather than being antithetical. Kothari demonstrated that the democratic process modernized traditional caste identities, transforming them into political interest groups and social federations that broadened political participation. The analysis highlighted the process of the "politicisation of caste," where traditional social structures adapt to modern electoral competition to secure power and resources. You can read a detailed analysis of this topic through academic resources on Indian political thought. Share public link
Kothari identifies several ways in which caste influences Indian politics: To understand the book, one must first understand its editor
Rajni Kothari (1928–2015) was a leading Indian political scientist whose writings deeply influenced understanding of Indian democracy, political institutions, and social cleavages. One major theme in his work is how caste shapes political behavior, party systems, and democratic practice in India. This post summarizes Kothari’s key ideas on caste and politics, explains their contemporary relevance, and suggests ways to use his insights for further study or classroom use.
Rajni Kothari’s seminal 1970 work, "Caste in Indian Politics," posits that the interaction between traditional caste structures and modern democratic processes is a symbiotic, rather than destructive, relationship. Kothari argues that the "politicization of caste" allows caste groups to function as interest groups within a modern democracy, bridging traditional society with a modernizing polity. For an in-depth analysis of these concepts, read the full work via Internet Archive . Book Excerptise: Caste in Indian Politics by Rajni Kothari
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The rise of caste-based political parties, the implementation of Mandal Commission recommendations, and the continuing debates over affirmative action policies all unfold within the framework that Kothari helped establish. As one recent analysis concluded, "the politicization of caste in India has shaped the nature of Indian politics to a great extent".