Caste, Village, and Modernity

Abstract

Gupta reflects on a range of issues in Indian society as encountered during his research. The discussion about the two-way relationship between rural and urban India moves to how modernity should be understood in terms of social relations. Gupta posits that modernity is different from contemporary. It is about respecting others as equals. There are resistances towards achieving modernity in India because the rich and the poor live in different worlds. Caste structures also play a role, inhibiting people to cross boundaries. With the dismantling of the old economy, caste does not function as system but as identity. Urbanization is the greatest threat to caste. The relationship between caste and elections is misunderstood, There is no caste anywhere that can, on the basis of its own numbers, win elections.