Political Economy of Class, Caste and Gender: A Study of Rural Dalit Labourers in India

225 Pages·2022·3.935 MB·English

by  Ishita Mehrotra

Political Economy of Class,
Caste and Gender
This book examines the structures of power and hierarchies within the
agrarian political economy in India, with a focus on gender. It analyses
various forms of inequalities within rural structures while situating the
position of women and Dalit agriculture labourers within these discriminate
networks of social exclusion, political marginalisation and poverty.
The book maps the impacts of neoliberal capitalist globalisation on
agrarian relations to identify who labourers are and how rural diversification
is shaped by class, caste and gender hierarchies specifically in the villages of
eastern Uttar Pradesh. It looks at occupational patterns of women workers,
labour relations and reconceptualisation of labour. The book documents
the experiences of exploitation as well as forms of resistance and collective
action of rural women labourers. In doing this, the book deals with processes
witnessed across the global South  – rural distress, depeasantisation,
migration, feminisation of agriculture as well as identity-based inequalities
in rural labour markets.
Rich in empirical data, the book will be useful for scholars and researchers
of labour studies, women’s studies, political economy, agrarian economy,
agrarian sociology, rural sociology, sociology, development studies and
political studies.
Ishita Mehrotra is an independent researcher with interests in political
economy of agrarian relations, caste and gender, rural labour relations,
labour movements and development theory. Previously, she has taught at
the School of Development Studies and the School of Undergraduate Studies
at Ambedkar University Delhi, India.

Political Economy of Class,
Caste and Gender
A Study of Rural Dalit Labourers
in India
Ishita Mehrotra
First published 2022
by Routledge
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa
business
© 2022 Ishita Mehrotra
The right of Ishita Mehrotra to be identified as author of this work
has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical,
or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including
photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or
retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks
or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and
explanation without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A catalog record for this book has been requested
ISBN: 978-0-367-33623-3 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-032-22906-5 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-0-429-32189-4 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9780429321894
Typeset in Sabon
by Apex CoVantage, LLC
Contents
List of Figures vi
Acknowledgements vii
1 Introduction 1
2 Who Is a Labourer? Reconceptualising and
Understanding the Agrarian Question of Labour Today 8
3 Are All Peasants Even? Mapping Occupational
Patterns and Hierarchies 62
4 Subsidising Patriarchal Capitalism: Labour Relations
of Dalit Women 124
5 Negotiating for Every Penny: Labour Resistance and
Struggle 166
6 Conclusion 183
References 195
Index 209
Figures
1.1 Fieldwork Area, Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh viii
3.1 Distribution of Households by Caste in Sapatganj, UP 66
3.2 Distribution of Households by Sub-Castes in Sapatganj, UP 66
3.3 Distribution of Households by Castes in Baaspur, UP 67
3.4 Distribution of Households by Sub-Castes in Baaspur, UP 67
3.5 Distribution of Households by Castes in Dokhgadh, UP 68
3.6 Distribution of Households by Sub-Castes in Dhokgadh, UP 68
3.7 Settlement Map of Sapatganj 70
3.8 Settlement Map of Baaspur 71
3.9 Settlement Map of Dokhgadh 73
3.10 Distribution of Households in Sapatganj by Size
of Landholdings 75
3.11 Distribution of Households in Sapatganj by Size of
Landholdings and Sub-Castes 76
3.12 Distribution of Households in Baaspur by Size
of Landholdings 77
3.13 Distribution of Households in Baaspur by Size of
Landholdings and Sub-Castes 77
3.14 Distribution of Households in Dokgadh by Size
of Landholdings 80
3.15 Distribution of Households in Dokhgadh by Size of
Landholdings and Sub-Castes 80
Acknowledgements
This book was an almost forgotten dream of mine, happy and complacent
as I was in everyday life and work. But being academicians themselves, Ena
and Sejuti would not let me take it easy. It is only thanks to them that I put
together a proposal for this book and here it is now. I am forever grateful
to them for breathing down my neck until I took pen to paper because from
that point on there was no turning back. Sejuti, thank you for being my
greatest friend, mentor, colleague, critic – just thank you for being in my life
and being you. In the journey of writing this book, Chandrani and Chotti
Sejuti have been my constants. Chandrani, this book is in the shape it is all
because of you and Chotti Sejuti, what would we do without you as our
sounding board. The beautiful memories we made in our years together in
Delhi will always keep us together even as each of us now lives and grows
separately. Taneesha, I still think that the maps are the most beautiful part
of this book and so a big thank you for all your help there.
Professor Pralay Kanungo at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi
and Dr Jens Lerche at SOAS, London turned me into the reader, writer,
researcher that I am today and without them there never would have been
me as a scholar to begin with. I will always be indebted to you both for your
patience and encouragement. Over the years, I have taken great pride in
your works and of having the privilege to have you both as my supervisors.
I just hope that this book goes some ways in making you both proud of me.
This book took more than two years to be completed and parts of it were
written under very difficult personal circumstances. But Shoma’s unwaver-
ing support and patience kept me going. Thank you, Routledge and Shoma.
In my formative years, many a learning took place at Suman bua’s knee.
She continues to be our pillar of strength.
My parents and sisters are my world. My parents, Lalit and Neeru, made
sure I had all possible opportunities and that I could travel, learn and work –
all of which have stood me in good stead. We might not have always agreed,
but their faith in me, their love and strength remained unshaken. My sisters,
Tanushri and Rakshita, have stood shoulder to shoulder with me always.
They are my heart and soul and without them I would not have made it
this far. Ashish, you are a remarkable person and Rakshita and I are forever
viii Acknowledgements
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Acknowledgements ix
grateful for being the almost son and brother that my parents are so proud
of. Tanish and Abeer, you both have brought much happiness and meaning
to all our lives. Thank you for keeping us on our toes and running around!
I lost my father before this book could be published. He always encour-
aged me to write a book, more so in his last few months. I did not tell him
about this book earlier as I wanted it to be a surprise, for him to be the first
person to hold a copy. Unfortunately, this wish will remain unfulfilled, but
I know for sure that wherever he is, he is happy and proud about this book
and very much hankering for a party. In the last year and a half, stuck as we
were in our homes due to the pandemic, during our early morning conversa-
tions, Papa often expressed his wish to chronicle his work life. To do so is
now my burden of love. Till then, Papa, rest in peace. And with this book,
I wish you a very happy 75th birthday.