This study presents a detailed analysis of the multifaceted struggle of the Scheduled Castes, the odyssey of their transformation from an apolitical, ostracized and indigent mass into a crucial factor in the political structure. It examines the inter-play of the forces, generated both by the British Raj and the changing complexion of the Indian national movement, which helped their emergence as a political power in India.
How was the most apposite appellation, the 'Scheduled Castes', coined? What were the measures adopted for arriving at their exact enumeration? How was it affected by the 'politics of numbers'? What was their socio-economic condition at the turn of the Century? What was its impact on the process of their politicization and political participation? How did they become an important factor both in the Indian national movement and the politics of the period? What was the pattern of their politics? How far were the ideas, strategies, and ends and means of their mentors in conflict with those of the caste Hindu leaders and the nationalists?
These are some of the basic questions this study probes and seeks to answer. All through, the study is backed by sound scholarship and critical sensitivity.
It is the firs study of its kinds in that it (i) traces the chequered career of the term 'Scheduled Castes'; (ii) conducts a province-wise survey of their socio-economic condition; (iii) examines the manipulation of Scheduled Castes' census in the game of the 'politics of numbers'; and (iv) highlights the part played by Baba Saheb Dr. B. R. Ambedkar as also by other prominent leaders, especially, M.C. Rajah, who have hitherto remained ignored.
The work is well documented and makes use of all the available archival, official and non-official sources.
About the Author
Dr. S. K. Gupta, Associate Professor in Himanchal Pradesh University, Shimla also head the department of history in the Correspondence Courses. He has authored A Map Approach to Indian History (Simla, 1975) and four chapters to Himachal: Past, Present and Future (Simla, 1975). Presently Dr. Gupta is a Fellow of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study and is working on his new project 'Reservations in Services - A Study in Socio-Economic and Political conditions 1920-80.'
| List of Tables | vii |
| Abbreviations | viii |
| Preface | xi |
The Search for a Name Indian Society; Social Framework The Trodden Worm Turns The Depressed Classes; Connotations and Criteria Opposition to Term Quest for a Befitting Alternative
| 1 |
The Politics of Numbers: Census Operations and the Depressed Class Beginning of Census in India The Politics of Census The Recognition of the Importance of Census by the Depressed Class An Attempt at the Precise Enumerations; Indian Franchise Committee | 36 |
Socio-Economic Condition of the Depressed Classes in 1916 Madras Bombay and Central Provinces and Berar Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, and Assam United Provinces of Agra and Awadh Panjab | 71 |
Initiation of the Depressed Class into Politics Socio-Economic Condition and Political Political Participation Circumstances Leading to Their Political Participation The Establishment of the British Raj Socio-Religious Reforms: The Indian National Congress and the Depressed Class; The National Social Conference and the Depressed Class New Needs, New Treatment Increasing Political Importance of the Depressed Class and Their Initiation into Politics The Morley-Minto Reforms The Depressed Classes and the Swadeshi and Home Rule Movement | 142 |
Towards Establishing a Political Identity The Untouchables and the Non-Brahman Movement August 1917 Declaration and Political Activity Amongst the Depressed classes Reaction to Montagu-Chelmsford Report Evidence Before the Southborough Committee Reaction to the Recommendations of Southborough Committee Joint Parliamentary Committee and the Depressed Classes Position of the Depressed Classes Under Government of India Act 1919 II The Depressed Class and the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms The Depressed Classes and the Anti-British Agitation The Depressed classes and the Non-Cooperation Movement Congress Efforts to Ameliorate the Condition of the Depressed class III From Consciousness to Organized Protest and Dissent Protection of the Depressed Class Interests in the Legislature Assertion of Civic Right by the Depressed Classes Caste Hindu Reaction and the Fight Ahead | 182 |
Towards a Transformation of Political Status Reaction of the Depressed Class to the All-White Commission Nehru Report and the Depressed Class The Depressed Classes Present Their Case Political Advancement and the Depressed Class Reaction of the Depressed Class to the Simon Commission's Report Recommendations of the Indian Central Committee and Depressed Class Convening of the Round Table Conference and the Untouchables Civil Disobedience Movement and the Depressed Class The Depressed Classes Demand Fair Representation on the R.T.C. Ambedkar and Srinivasan Plead at the R.T.C Ambedkar and the Political Advancement Outcome of the First Session of the R.T.C Communal Tangle and the Depressed Classes Indian Franchise Committee and the Depressed Class Reaction of the Depressed Class to the Communal Award Mahatma Gandhi's Resistance to Separate Representation Towards the Poona Pact Caste Hindu Reaction of the Poona Pact Reaction to the Depressed Class to the Poona Pact Recommendations of the Joint Select Committee Political Status of the Scheduled Castes Under the Act of 1935 II Towards an Exclusive Depressed Classes Movement Schism the Movement | 236 |
| Bibliography | 333 |
| Index | 343 |
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This study presents a detailed analysis of the multifaceted struggle of the Scheduled Castes, the odyssey of their transformation from an apolitical, ostracized and indigent mass into a crucial factor in the political structure. It examines the inter-play of the forces, generated both by the British Raj and the changing complexion of the Indian national movement, which helped their emergence as a political power in India.
How was the most apposite appellation, the 'Scheduled Castes', coined? What were the measures adopted for arriving at their exact enumeration? How was it affected by the 'politics of numbers'? What was their socio-economic condition at the turn of the Century? What was its impact on the process of their politicization and political participation? How did they become an important factor both in the Indian national movement and the politics of the period? What was the pattern of their politics? How far were the ideas, strategies, and ends and means of their mentors in conflict with those of the caste Hindu leaders and the nationalists?
These are some of the basic questions this study probes and seeks to answer. All through, the study is backed by sound scholarship and critical sensitivity.
It is the firs study of its kinds in that it (i) traces the chequered career of the term 'Scheduled Castes'; (ii) conducts a province-wise survey of their socio-economic condition; (iii) examines the manipulation of Scheduled Castes' census in the game of the 'politics of numbers'; and (iv) highlights the part played by Baba Saheb Dr. B. R. Ambedkar as also by other prominent leaders, especially, M.C. Rajah, who have hitherto remained ignored.
The work is well documented and makes use of all the available archival, official and non-official sources.
About the Author
Dr. S. K. Gupta, Associate Professor in Himanchal Pradesh University, Shimla also head the department of history in the Correspondence Courses. He has authored A Map Approach to Indian History (Simla, 1975) and four chapters to Himachal: Past, Present and Future (Simla, 1975). Presently Dr. Gupta is a Fellow of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study and is working on his new project 'Reservations in Services - A Study in Socio-Economic and Political conditions 1920-80.'
| List of Tables | vii |
| Abbreviations | viii |
| Preface | xi |
The Search for a Name Indian Society; Social Framework The Trodden Worm Turns The Depressed Classes; Connotations and Criteria Opposition to Term Quest for a Befitting Alternative
| 1 |
The Politics of Numbers: Census Operations and the Depressed Class Beginning of Census in India The Politics of Census The Recognition of the Importance of Census by the Depressed Class An Attempt at the Precise Enumerations; Indian Franchise Committee | 36 |
Socio-Economic Condition of the Depressed Classes in 1916 Madras Bombay and Central Provinces and Berar Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, and Assam United Provinces of Agra and Awadh Panjab | 71 |
Initiation of the Depressed Class into Politics Socio-Economic Condition and Political Political Participation Circumstances Leading to Their Political Participation The Establishment of the British Raj Socio-Religious Reforms: The Indian National Congress and the Depressed Class; The National Social Conference and the Depressed Class New Needs, New Treatment Increasing Political Importance of the Depressed Class and Their Initiation into Politics The Morley-Minto Reforms The Depressed Classes and the Swadeshi and Home Rule Movement | 142 |
Towards Establishing a Political Identity The Untouchables and the Non-Brahman Movement August 1917 Declaration and Political Activity Amongst the Depressed classes Reaction to Montagu-Chelmsford Report Evidence Before the Southborough Committee Reaction to the Recommendations of Southborough Committee Joint Parliamentary Committee and the Depressed Classes Position of the Depressed Classes Under Government of India Act 1919 II The Depressed Class and the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms The Depressed Classes and the Anti-British Agitation The Depressed classes and the Non-Cooperation Movement Congress Efforts to Ameliorate the Condition of the Depressed class III From Consciousness to Organized Protest and Dissent Protection of the Depressed Class Interests in the Legislature Assertion of Civic Right by the Depressed Classes Caste Hindu Reaction and the Fight Ahead | 182 |
Towards a Transformation of Political Status Reaction of the Depressed Class to the All-White Commission Nehru Report and the Depressed Class The Depressed Classes Present Their Case Political Advancement and the Depressed Class Reaction of the Depressed Class to the Simon Commission's Report Recommendations of the Indian Central Committee and Depressed Class Convening of the Round Table Conference and the Untouchables Civil Disobedience Movement and the Depressed Class The Depressed Classes Demand Fair Representation on the R.T.C. Ambedkar and Srinivasan Plead at the R.T.C Ambedkar and the Political Advancement Outcome of the First Session of the R.T.C Communal Tangle and the Depressed Classes Indian Franchise Committee and the Depressed Class Reaction of the Depressed Class to the Communal Award Mahatma Gandhi's Resistance to Separate Representation Towards the Poona Pact Caste Hindu Reaction of the Poona Pact Reaction to the Depressed Class to the Poona Pact Recommendations of the Joint Select Committee Political Status of the Scheduled Castes Under the Act of 1935 II Towards an Exclusive Depressed Classes Movement Schism the Movement | 236 |
| Bibliography | 333 |
| Index | 343 |
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