However, I don’t have direct access to specific PDF files, including page 15 or the full document by Rajni Kothari titled Caste in Indian Politics .
Unlike class-based politics in Europe, India’s democracy aggregated votes along caste lines. Political parties selected candidates based on caste arithmetic. Rajni Kothari Caste In Indian Politics 15.pdf
Note: To respect copyright, I recommend obtaining the original PDF legally from institutional libraries or academic databases like JSTOR, Shodhganga, or archive.org. However, I don’t have direct access to specific
If you have access to , pay close attention to the paragraph on the middle of page 15 — it contains the thesis that changed Indian political science forever: “Far from disappearing, caste got a new lease of life from democratic politics.” Note: To respect copyright, I recommend obtaining the
Rajni Kothari’s seminal 1970 work, Caste in Indian Politics , argues that democratic processes did not abolish caste, but rather politicized it by creating secular outlets for competition and mobilization. Kothari’s framework outlines the transformation of caste from a traditional hierarchy into a functional instrument of democratic assertion. For a digital version of this, visit Scribd . KOTHARI, (ed.), "Caste in Indian Politics" (Book Review)
Rajni Kothari, often regarded as the doyen of Indian political science, revolutionized the way we perceive the Indian electorate. While the specific file name—"15.pdf"—likely refers to a digitized chapter, section, or course material from his broader body of work (most famously associated with his book Caste in Indian Politics or his earlier essays in the Economic Weekly ), the core text remains a masterclass in political sociology. This article explores the key themes found within Kothari’s analysis of caste, examining why this specific academic perspective remains indispensable for understanding modern India.