ABSTRACT
Chapter 1 discusses the broad changes in castes’ political economy since the last quarter of the twentieth century, i.e., changes in occupational profiles, emergence of new social classes among castes and loosening of hold of traditional occupations on power relations among castes. The changes in favour of the low castes – Dalits, MBCs or Jats (Rajasthan, as in UP they were already a dominant caste) – have occurred in the villages where generally they have positive relationships with constant factors – substantial numerical strength – have formed effective political community, and are economically independent of the erstwhile dominant castes. But the power relations continue to remain in favour of traditional dominant castes where they have positive relationships with the constant factors.
