Ajantha Subramanian, The Caste of Merit: Engineering Education in India

Abstract

gender inequalities would address all inequalities is somewhat problematic, as different identities assume prominence in different contexts, while being gendered. Gender is primarily seen as binary, while gender identities need to be seen as a continuum. The ‘bubble-up’ model is good but needs to go beyond wage, economic federations, employment-led development and local government. The religion, class, caste and gender gaps in wages and division of work have to be addressed, as the gaps in asset base, institutional credit, access to value chains, leadership in producer companies and care services. While women’s representation in local government or parliament is a value by itself, there is no assurance that the elected representatives will take up strategic gender, caste or class interests. Body and mind are not dichotomous, and control over women’s body has been a tool for subordination. Women need to have control over both and use them for expanding women’s agency. Some of Gandhi’s arguments (e.g., celibacy is the answer for women’s oppression) are problematic. Celibacy denies women’s sexual rights unless one accepts sex outside marriage. Overall, the book is a must-read for those working on gender and development. It gives a peep into the history of the women’s movement and its making, and interventions of a remarkable woman who had her role in shaping it. My key takeaways are bubble-up, feminist, economic and political models; the contradiction between economic development and rights arm of the UN; and the need to rethink economic concepts from aam aurat.