Beyond mandal and after : backward classes in perspective

In this book the author has examined the social and political processes during the colonial period, which resulted in including in the Constitution, the provisions for positive discrimination in favour of the disadvantaged sections of Indian population. Drawing upon historical facts, he has proved analytically that the policy of positive discrimination does not necessarily reflect the humanist approach of the political leadership of the time. Against the backdrop of the character of the ruling class, it became a political necessity to adopt a strategy of balancing various socio-political forces for ensuring the legitimacy and stability of the Indian State. In this strategy the dialectic of the Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles of the State Policy has been an important factor.

Prof. Roy Burman also analysed the imperatives and constraints underlying the establishment of the first and the second Backward Classes Commissions at different points of time and the responses of the political elites of diverse hues to the recommendations of the Commissions. He has argued that for developing a strategy of social transformation, cognisance should also be taken of caste along with other relevant factors; but one must be careful that casteist forces, thereby, are not further entrenched.

One must find one's way out of the labyrinth of castes. Mandal Commission, according to the author has not only extolled caste as the prime mover of India's polity in the past and even in the future almost as destiny's blue-print, but has also presented facts and figures of questionable authenticity.