Social stratification and mobilety in Urban India

Emerging patterns of social stratification and mobility with many facets are analysed in this book. Social stratification which has been the focal concern of sociological researches for many centuries was conceived and analysed in unidimensional terms, from Aristotle to Marx to Warner. Further Weber's multidimensional exposition, of class, status groups and parties, coexistence of parallel vertical hierarchies offer a useful approach in the analysis of status inconsistencies emerging as a result of interplay between caste and class, is one the important theme which has been examined empirically.

Whether forces of modernization have attenuated social distances between castes in another relevent issue that has been analysed.

Social mobility is another theme of the articles presented here. While inequalities in the Indian society persist, social policy is designed to enhance 'equality of opportunity' for developing a just social order. To what extent gross, forced and pure mobility exists in Indian society, has been empirically analysed.