NLS Faculty Seminar | ‘Caste, Resources, and Political Economy: Influence of Caste Associations in Post Liberalisation Bihar’

At this trimester’s last seminar, we have a presentation by Dr. Aniket Nandan, Assistant Professor, Sociology, on his paper titled ‘Caste, Resources, and Political Economy: Influence of Caste Associations in Post Liberalisation Bihar.’ The seminar will be held on May 21, 2025, in the Ground Floor Conference Hall at NLSIU’s Training Centre at 2:15 pm.

Abstract

This study critically examines the mechanisms and influence of associational structures of caste on the popular political economy of Bihar as they display intriguing interaction with market and politics in post liberalization India. Significant socio- anthropological literature on associational structures of caste have tended to emphasise on its role as a socio-political organization. Subsequently, functions of caste associations were observed to be (re)shaped by several forms of cultural and political assertive mechanisms. However, in contemporary context, effects of associational structures of caste are found to be pervasive in everyday economic relations and the business economy. In the post-liberalization era, caste associations, that continually influenced everyday economic relations and politics, have often constructed resources in the form of a network of opportunity hoarding and gatekeeping of professions. Therefore, for this study, imagination of associational structures of caste is revisited, beyond its religious ideology, political competition, and its prevalence in agrarian order. This study views caste associations not only as a mechanism of socio-political assertion and cultural guardian but also as a strategic dialogist for claim making over economic opportunities and advantageous professions.

The study is based on fieldwork during May 2018- Jan 2020 with regards to understanding functions and new forms of engagements of caste association of Bhumihars in Patna region of Bihar. Nonetheless, it gains immense insights from ethnographic data collected intermittently. Therefore, in its attempt to foreground corelation between caste associations and market relations and political influence the study revisits the concept of dominant caste and contests a few traditional understandings about the tenacity of caste in Indian context.