Table of Contents

Introduction - Dipankar Gupta
The Certitudes of Caste: When Identity Trumps Hierarchy
Caste Panchayats and the Policing of Marriage in Haryana - Prem Chowdhry
Enforcing Kinship and Territorial Exogamy
`We (Yadavs) Are a Caste of Politicians′ - Lucia Michelutti
Caste and Modern Politics in a North Indian Town
Jains, Caste and Hierarchy in North Gujarat - John E Cort
Hierarchy, Difference and the Caste System - Gaurang R Sahay
A Study of Rural Bihar
Replication or Dissent? Culture and Institutions Among `Untouchable′ Scheduled Castes in Karnataka - G K Karanth
Sikhism and the Caste Question - Surinder S Jodhka
Dalits and Their Politics in Contemporary Punjab
Inventing Caste History - Badri Narayan
Dalit Mobilisation and Nationalist Past
`The Bedias are Rajputs′ - Anuja Agrawal
Caste Consciousness of a Marginal Community

About the Author

Dipankar Gupta is Professor at the Centre for the Study of Social Systems, Jawaharlal Nehru University.