Papers by Surinder Jodhka
Middle-class has been an important historical and sociological category in modern India. The idea... more Middle-class has been an important historical and sociological category in modern India. The idea of India as a modern and democratic nation state was imagined and articulated by the emergent middle classes during the later phase of the British colonial rule over the subcontinent. The middle-class leadership of the Indian nationalist movement also provided foundational values to the newly independent country after the colonial rule had ended. Over the last two decades, the Indian middle class has been celebrated for its economic achievements in the new global economy. It has also been expanding in size, providing critical market base to the process of economic growth and stability to democratic politics.
Choice Reviews Online, Aug 18, 2015
The attack in May on two visiting religious leaders of Ravi Dasis in Vienna, presumably by a grou... more The attack in May on two visiting religious leaders of Ravi Dasis in Vienna, presumably by a group of local militant Sikhs, sparked off widespread violence in Punjab. Though most of the violence by Ravi Dasi dalits was directed against public property and reflected their general anger at the Vienna incident, the mainstream media was quick to interpret it as yet another instance of caste conflict within Sikhism, viz, between dalit Sikhs and upper caste Sikhs. Such misrepresentations of caste and religious realities of Punjab today could lead to a communal divide between dalits and mainstream Sikhism. Based on an empirical study of the Punjabi Ravi Dasis, the paper tries to provide a historical perspective on caste and religion in Punjab today.
The Journal of Peasant Studies, Oct 31, 2021
ABSTRACT In early June 2020, the union government of India enacted three legislations concerning ... more ABSTRACT In early June 2020, the union government of India enacted three legislations concerning agriculture. The new laws were intended to open up the farming sector to an increased commercial engagement by the big corporates, who could purchase, store and even decide through contract farming what crops to produce. Together they were designed to fundamentally change and reorient the pre-existing regulatory framework of Indian agriculture. The farmers, particularly those from the north-western regions see these laws as an attack on farming cultures and their livelihoods. They have been demanding withdrawal of the new laws and an extension of price security for all agricultural commodities. These protests have been on for more than a year. This paper provides a brief overview of the context and the possible implications of the ongoing farmers' movement, the biggest ever in the recent history of India, and perhaps also one of the biggest in the recent past, anywhere in the world. The paper focuses primarily on the agrarian context of Punjab, where it all began and where it remains most pronounced and popular.
Oxford University Press eBooks, 2013
INTRODUCTION: 'MODERNITY', IDENTITY, AND 'CITIZENSHIP'-DIPANKAR GUPTA AND SOCIOLO... more INTRODUCTION: 'MODERNITY', IDENTITY, AND 'CITIZENSHIP'-DIPANKAR GUPTA AND SOCIOLOGY OF INDIA, SURINDER JODHKA 1. STRANGERS, NEIGHBOURS, AND POLITICAL ORDER IN THE SOUTH ASIAN CITY, T.B. HANSEN 2. THE 'EMBOURGEOISEMENT' OF A 'PROLETARIAN VANGUARD'? JONATHAN PARRY 3. DOES THE MIDDLE CLASS HAVE BOUNDARIES? ANDRE BETEILLE 4. OLD DIFFERENCES AND NEW HIERARCHIES: THE TROUBLE WITH TRIBES IN CONTEMPORARY INDIA, KRITI KAPILA 5. WHAT IS CIVIL AND UNCIVIL IN CIVIL SOCIETY? CONCEPTUAL REFLECTIONS ON CONTEMPORARY INDIA, GURPREET MAHAJAN 6. RELIGION, POLITICS, AND GOVERNANCE: A COMPARATIVE FRAMEWORK, GURHARPAL SINGH 7. REFINING THE 'MODERATION THESIS' REGARDING 'RADICAL PARTIES': THE JANA SANGH AND THE BJP BETWEEN HINDU NATIONALISM AND COALITION POLITICS IN INDIA, CHRISTOPHE JAFFRELOT 8. RESEARCHING HEALTH CARE IN INDIA, 1970-2010: A REFLEXIVE ACCOUNT, ROGER JEFFREY 9. A DIFFERENT INDIA: NEW IMAGINARIES OF OTHERNESS AFTER THE REFORMS, RAVINDER KAUR 10. VIOLENCE OF LAW AND CITIZENSHIP: CONUNDRUM OF DEMOCRACY UNDER NATIONALIST ETHOS, A. BIMOL AKOIJAM 11. DEMOCRACY IN INDIA: OF, BY, AND FOR WHOM? SUMANTA BANERJEE ABOUT THE EDITOR AND CONTRIBUTORS
Routledge eBooks, Jul 7, 2023
Duke University Press eBooks, May 6, 2016
Sociology, Jul 27, 2011
Caste is popularly understood as a uniquely Indian and Hindu system of social organization. In th... more Caste is popularly understood as a uniquely Indian and Hindu system of social organization. In the sociological writings, it is often viewed as a “closed system” of social stratification in which social groups, often divided on the basis of their occupations, strictly follow a code of behavior prescribed by tradition regarding marriage and kinship alliances. Caste groups are unequal, ranked on a scale of hierarchy on the basis of their ritual status, from pure to impure. The hierarchy is sanctioned by the Hindu religious belief. Their “status” or position in the system determines with whom they can and cannot interact.
Routledge eBooks, Jul 3, 2023
Routledge eBooks, Oct 26, 2022
American Journal of Sociology, Jul 1, 2020
declared a mental illness. In his view (p. 186), the acceptance of PTSD as a disease is likely "a... more declared a mental illness. In his view (p. 186), the acceptance of PTSD as a disease is likely "a welcome development for traumatized people." It brings to PTSD sufferers the attention and mental health treatment that they need and that was missing in the past. As for Horwitz's book, it is well written, interesting, and an excellent illustration of the problematic character of a particular disorder of the mind. This reviewer recommends it as a supplementary text for classes on the sociology of mental disorder and related topics. It is sure to provoke discussion.
Caste has for long been an important aspect of India's social order. Notwithstanding significant ... more Caste has for long been an important aspect of India's social order. Notwithstanding significant variations across regions, the institution of caste has shaped structures of opportunity and access in the subcontinent. For the majority population of the Hindus it has also been an important aspect of their cultural and religious life and shaped the notion of differences and divisions in society. However, caste was not simply a question of cultural difference. The ideas of "pure" and "impure" produced a hierarchical social order, marked by rigid social inequalities and the humiliating practice of treating some groups as "untouchables". Caste based cultures privileged some social groups and produced deprivations and poverty among others.
Notwithstanding its criticisms and condemnations from diverse quarters, ‘development’ continues t... more Notwithstanding its criticisms and condemnations from diverse quarters, ‘development’ continues to be an important and attractive idea in the world today. It remains an important component of the state policy in most of the developing world. It also continues to be invoked in political rhetoric of populist mobilization, a source of hope to the large masses of poor and deprived in countries of the Third World. International funding agencies and charities in the developed North also continue to spend a significant proportion of their resources on development related activities.
INTRODUCTION: 'MODERNITY', IDENTITY, AND 'CITIZENSHIP'-DIPANKAR GUPTA AND SOCIOLO... more INTRODUCTION: 'MODERNITY', IDENTITY, AND 'CITIZENSHIP'-DIPANKAR GUPTA AND SOCIOLOGY OF INDIA, SURINDER JODHKA 1. STRANGERS, NEIGHBOURS, AND POLITICAL ORDER IN THE SOUTH ASIAN CITY, T.B. HANSEN 2. THE 'EMBOURGEOISEMENT' OF A 'PROLETARIAN VANGUARD'? JONATHAN PARRY 3. DOES THE MIDDLE CLASS HAVE BOUNDARIES? ANDRE BETEILLE 4. OLD DIFFERENCES AND NEW HIERARCHIES: THE TROUBLE WITH TRIBES IN CONTEMPORARY INDIA, KRITI KAPILA 5. WHAT IS CIVIL AND UNCIVIL IN CIVIL SOCIETY? CONCEPTUAL REFLECTIONS ON CONTEMPORARY INDIA, GURPREET MAHAJAN 6. RELIGION, POLITICS, AND GOVERNANCE: A COMPARATIVE FRAMEWORK, GURHARPAL SINGH 7. REFINING THE 'MODERATION THESIS' REGARDING 'RADICAL PARTIES': THE JANA SANGH AND THE BJP BETWEEN HINDU NATIONALISM AND COALITION POLITICS IN INDIA, CHRISTOPHE JAFFRELOT 8. RESEARCHING HEALTH CARE IN INDIA, 1970-2010: A REFLEXIVE ACCOUNT, ROGER JEFFREY 9. A DIFFERENT INDIA: NEW IMAGINARIES OF OTHERNESS AFTER THE REFORMS, RAVINDER KAUR 10. VIOLENCE OF LAW AND CITIZENSHIP: CONUNDRUM OF DEMOCRACY UNDER NATIONALIST ETHOS, A. BIMOL AKOIJAM 11. DEMOCRACY IN INDIA: OF, BY, AND FOR WHOM? SUMANTA BANERJEE ABOUT THE EDITOR AND CONTRIBUTORS
HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), 2019
Preface PART ONE: COMMUNITY AND IDENTITIES: CONCEPTUAL QUESTIONS Introduction - Surinder S Jodkha... more Preface PART ONE: COMMUNITY AND IDENTITIES: CONCEPTUAL QUESTIONS Introduction - Surinder S Jodkha The Concept of Community in Indian Social Sciences - Carol Upadhya An Anthropological Perspective In the Tracks of Community and Identity - Sasheej Hegde Deepening the Interrogation The Eclipse or the Renaissance of 'Community'? The Career of the Concept - Ravinder Kaur PART TWO: CASTE, CLASS AND THE POLITICS OF COMMUNITY IDENTITIES Is Caste Appeal Casteism? Oppressed Castes in Politics - Javeed Alam The Ambiguity of Categories - D Parthasarthy Community and Identity in the Kapunadu Movement Narratives in the Re-Constitution of Communities - A R Vasavi Community, Identity and Politics - Sujata Patel The Baliapal Movement PART THREE: GLOBALIZATION AND THE SPATIAL REARTICULATION OF COMMUNITIES 'Can You Talk Indian?' Shifting Notions of Community and Identity in the Indian Diaspora - Aparna Rayaprol The Spatiality of Community - Satish Deshpande Evaluating the Impact of Globalization on Regional Identities PART FOUR: MINORITIES, WOMEN AND COMMUNITIES Fluid Boundaries - Rowena Robinson Indian Christian Communities Community, Women Citizens and a Women's Politics - Anupama Roy Index
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Papers by Surinder Jodhka