Rajni Kothari's Caste in Indian Politics (1970) argues that caste acts as a vital instrument of mobilization in democratic India, asserting that it is the politicization of caste rather than the caste-ridden nature of politics that shapes the landscape. Kothari outlines a three-stage evolution—polarization, fragmentation, and secular integration—where caste transforms into a secular interest group within the democratic process. For a detailed sociological perspective on these themes, visit TriumphIAS .
Kothari posits that far from fading under democracy, caste has been politicized while politics has been caste-ized . He introduces the concept of the “caste association” (such as the Kshatriya Sabha, Yadav Mahasabha) – a modern, horizontally organized caste group that transcends local jati divisions to function as a pressure group and vote bank in electoral politics. Rajni Kothari Caste In Indian Politics 15.pdf
Your PDF’s Page 15 is not a dusty archive piece. It is a living diagnostic tool. Rajni Kothari's Caste in Indian Politics (1970) argues
Rajni Kothari’s analysis remains highly relevant to modern Indian politics. The "politicization of caste" he described has allowed for the upward mobility of marginalized groups, even while it has solidified caste identities in the electoral arena. His work argues that to understand India, one must look at how the "caste structure" has been adapted into the "web of organization" of democratic politics. Kothari posits that far from fading under democracy,
Perhaps Kothari's single most influential insight is that the relationship between caste and politics is a . As one subsequent analysis put it, "Caste needs politics as much as politics need caste". Kothari demonstrated this dialectical relationship through careful empirical research.