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The Indian Middle Class
Who exactly are the middle classes in India? What role do they play in contemporary Indian politics and society, and what are their historical and cultural moorings? The authors of this volume argue that the middle class has largely been understood as an ‘income/ economic category’, but the term has a broader social and conceptual history, globally as well as in India.
To begin with, the middle class is not a homogeneous category but is shaped by specific colonial and post-colonial experiences and is differentiated by caste, ethnicity, region, religion, and gender locations. These socio-economic differentiations shape its politics and culture and become the basis of internal conflicts, contestations, and divergent political worldviews. The authors demonstrate how the middle class has acquired a certain legitimacy to speak on behalf of the society as a whole, despite its politics being inherently exclusionary, as it tries to protect its own interests. Further, perceived as an aspirational category, the middle class has a seductive charm for the lower classes, who struggle to shift to this ever elusive social location.
To begin with, the middle class is not a homogeneous category but is shaped by specific colonial and post-colonial experiences and is differentiated by caste, ethnicity, region, religion, and gender locations. These socio-economic differentiations shape its politics and culture and become the basis of internal conflicts, contestations, and divergent political worldviews. The authors demonstrate how the middle class has acquired a certain legitimacy to speak on behalf of the society as a whole, despite its politics being inherently exclusionary, as it tries to protect its own interests. Further, perceived as an aspirational category, the middle class has a seductive charm for the lower classes, who struggle to shift to this ever elusive social location.
232 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2016
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About the author
Surinder S. Jodhka
29 books8 followersProfessor of Sociology at JNU, New Delhi. He researches on caste; agrarian change and contemporary rural India; and community identities. His publications include Contested Hierarchies: Caste and Power in 21st Century India (OBS 2018 with James Manor); A Handbook of Rural India (OBS 2018); The Indian Middle Class (OUP 2016, with Aseem Prakash); Caste in Contemporary India (Routledge 2015); Interrogating India’s Modernity (ed. OUP 2013); Caste (OUP 2012). He is editor of the Routledge India book series on ‘Religion and Citizenship. He is the recipients of the ICSSR-Amartya Sen Award for Distinguished Social Scientists.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 14, 2019
I am surrounded by people who keep telling me they are "middle class". But no one was able to give me the criteria for the same. Even rich kids around me tell me they are "middle class".
This short book helps clear some of the contradictions that exist in regards to Indian middle class. While there is no solid income bracket which defines this class, but a lot of other factors must be taken into account. With the neo-liberal reforms of 1990s, it becomes even hard to define.
This book traces the roots of Indian middle class, its transformation post-independence in Nehruvian development decades, and the effects of 1990 reforms.
Interesting thing to note is that Indian middle class is not really in the middle considering 2/3 of the population lives in rural side.
It's an easy and must read book.
This short book helps clear some of the contradictions that exist in regards to Indian middle class. While there is no solid income bracket which defines this class, but a lot of other factors must be taken into account. With the neo-liberal reforms of 1990s, it becomes even hard to define.
This book traces the roots of Indian middle class, its transformation post-independence in Nehruvian development decades, and the effects of 1990 reforms.
Interesting thing to note is that Indian middle class is not really in the middle considering 2/3 of the population lives in rural side.
It's an easy and must read book.
April 1, 2018
Good comprehensive introduction to the topic. One missing element is the relationship between the middle-classes and Hindu nationalism; just as the middle-classes were the vector for modernisation of the Nehruvian state, a key component of which is secularism; the shift away from the Nehruvian model to a more market-based one in economic policy has also been accompanied by the rise of Hindu nationalist politics. The middle-classes are one of the standard-bearers of Hindutva politics.
February 14, 2017
Good one with lot of new perspectives. Nevertheless focus was disproportionate on the historical dimension, could have elaborated more on the contemporary dynamics of middle class -their politics, aspirations, contradictions and how they shape India's future. Another positive aspect of the work is that many examples are quoted to substantiate the theoretical frameworks so as to make the argument more appealing.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews