ABSTRACT
Chapter 1 by M. V. Nadkarni explains the concept of Broad-Basing and its working, and traces its history from the ancient period to the present. Broad-Basing is a process through which an increasing number of social groups enter the mainstream of social, political and economic activities and progressively derive the same advantages from the society as the groups already in the mainstream. Broad-Basing occurs alongside and often in response to the challenge of the opposite process of marginalisation. Broad-Basing is distinguished from similar other processes like inclusion. It was in operation even in the distant past in India and in the medieval age, but along with marginalisation. During the British period, both marginalisation and Broad-Basing operated with renewed intensity. After India’s independence, the process got a significant boost by the Constitution of India, the policy of positive discrimination or reservation, and initiation of planned economic development. All social groups gained significantly through economic growth in absolute terms by it, though unequally. The main theme of the volume deals with the question of whether marginalisation, which was dominant under colonial rule, has clearly given way to a Broad-Basing process in the 70 years after independence.
