The Asian Man - An International Journal
Year : 2008, Volume : 2, Issue : 2
First page : ( 119) Last page : ( 135)
Print ISSN : 0974-6366.

Peasant struggle for egalitarian society, Beyond the institutional framework

Prasad B.N., Reader

Giri Institute of Development Studies, Lucknow (U.P.), E-mail: Prasad06bn@yahoo.co.in.

Abstract

Social stratification has been a ubiquitous presence in human society. But, larger the inequalities between layers of the social system, the system is more open to crises and violence. G. Lenski in his magisterial survey of social development noted how agrarian societies were the most unequal societies negating there by any successful representation of democracy, let alone the autochthonous development of such a system of political rule in those regions. Traditionally, Indian agrarian societies have been the most unjust societies. But the establishment of democratic regime in India, where the agrarian radicalism is still perceptible, inclines the political behaviour of this country towards violent confrontation, leading to political crises. The traditional agrarian social formation has undergone a sea change due to democratic value system, rising level of literacy, modernization, disintegration of feudal mode of production and emergence of capitalist mode of production, etc. However, traditionally disadvantageous castes/classes find themselves alienated from democratic institutions, which are beyond their reach.

Top