Religion and caste politics

In a country like India, ideologies like 'secularism' need to be implemented through education. But the ruling parties have not succeeded to implement them. Claiming to rebuild the nation, Hindu nationalists present themselves as an institutional and ideological alternative. On the other hand, 'minority' fundamentalism and separatism have gravitated towards terrorism. There is an attempt to bury 'modernity' and the embrace 'post modernism'. The former is identified with science and rationality and the later with Dharma.

Dr. Agarwalla's book significantly furthers current debates on religion and caste politics in India. He has painstakingly tried to write a history of interaction between state, law and religion in India from the Negroid period to the Mughal period and has come out with interesting conclusions. It may also seem to be a paradox, but it is true that religious fundamentalism, separatism and Hindu nationalism, in the 1980s, have given a new lease of life to dormant caste politics. If the religious politics had caused India's partition in 1947, the caste politics is now furthering fragmentation of Indian identity. The communal-secular card is now being played for political motives only. Many provisions in our Constitution have been repeatedly misused by the leaders.

The book will prove to be an important reference for all academics and professionals having interest in the changing scenario of Indian politics.