Political economy of caste in India / K. S. Chalam.

Includes bibliographical references (pages [254]-264) and index.

Caste mode of production : concept and content -- Colonial approach to Hindutva and Marxist writing -- Caste and economic power in India -- Inequity in the development of human capital in India -- Economic deprivation and social exclusion of marginalized castes -- New economic policy : the Dvija Project -- Caste and the advent of crony capitalism in India -- Judiciary and deprivation of social justice -- Social barriers as impediments of information flow -- Physical alienation : offences and atrocities against scheduled castes -- The fragmented assertion : divide and rule -- Globalization and the future of Dalits and Adivasis -- Democracy Dalit rights and the paradigm shift.

"Political Economy of Caste in India presents the caste mode of production as an important analytical tool to understand the socio-economic and political dynamics of India. The book looks at caste from the economic base and also links it with the superstructure that includes judiciary, untouchability practices, caste atrocities against Dalits, social exclusion and so on. It presents empirical studies to show that the social habits of discrimination and crimes against the marginalized communities prevail even in the 21st century to physically alienate them from mainstream opportunities and ensure involuntary supply of labour at lower wages. It articulates that the economic intensity of caste can be discerned through the caste mode of production. The study brings out the limitations of some of the Marxists' understanding of caste. It also presents a distinct approach for comprehending caste and suggests that the human rights perspective is one of the ways to combat it"-- Publisher's description.