Subjects

Studies in Social Protest

Shyam Lal, Rawat, 2010, xiv, 356 p, ISBN : 8131603318, $50.00 (Includes free airmail shipping)

Studies in Social Protest

Contents: Foreword. Preface. I. Background: 1. Recognition of untouchables sacrifice at last. 2. The mode of existence of the Chamar in traditional Rajputana society. II. Politics: 3. Social mobilization and political development. 4. Political parties and the Chamar/Meghwal leadership: perspective/policy/strategy. 5. Rashtriya Meghwal Mahasangh: a caste model of socio-political organization, 1997. 6. Harijan Mukti Andolan: Rajasthan Anussuchit Jati Sewa Sang and reform movement. 7. Acharya Guru Prasad K.P.: a study in leadership. III. Movement: 8. Rise and awakening of Meghwal and Sootrakar Communities in Western Rajasthan. 9. Swami Gokuldas Maharaj and the constrained Meghvanshi movement. 10. Meghwals, sootrakas and Chamars movement in Ajmer-Jaipur. 11. Some aspects of the Meghwals caste movement in South Rajasthan from pre-Independence to post-Independence. 12. The organizations of Meghwals and Chamars in Bikaner. 13. Balai uplift movement in Delhi and Gujarat. IV. Religion: 14. Dharmgurus' contribution towards reform movement of Chamars. V. Caste paper: 15. The Meghwals' mouthpiece. Index.

"All over Rajasthan the low untouchable castes are organizing themselves to fight against inequality, discrimination and deprivation. They often agitate for their legitimate share in economic opportunities, educational privileges and political power. Widespread collective mobilization centered round such interests has led to social protest with defined ideologies and leadership, which have brought out significant changes in the community they originate.
This is a study of one of the dominating low untouchable castes--the Meghwals, earlier known as Chamars--in Rajasthan in the wider context of sociology of social movements. The focus of attention in the book is the Meghwals and their protest and movements in the erstwhile princely states of Rajaputana against the backdrop of two important changes witnessed in the then Marwar state in early 1916: a wave of Dalit assertion and grassroots activism. An attempt is made to analyse the genesis, growth, dynamics and socio-cultural and political consequences of the movement among the Meghwals of Rajasthan.


Perhaps the only scholarly work on the Meghwal movement in Rajasthan, it will be of immense interest to sociologists, anthropologists, political scientists and all those engaged in Dalit studies." (jacket) 

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