Changing Caste-Class Dynamics in Rajasthan’s Agrarian Landscape

Abstract

This article examines the evolving interrelationship between caste hierarchies and class formations within Rajasthan’s agrarian political economy, focusing on post-independence transformations that have shaped the traditional power structure. It engages with the political and economic perspective while borrowing insights from John Harriss (1982) and Purendra Prasad (2014). Drawing upon government reports, contemporary events, and historical context, the paper argues that caste and class relations in Rajasthan mutually constitute social and power relations that are continuously reconfigured through patterns of resource distribution, economic diversification, and political mobilization. The postcolonial economic processes, along with political transformation, have precipitated significant challenges to the dominance of upper castes while creating opportunities for intermediate castes to translate agrarian capital into political influence. Different social mobility patterns of castes like Jats, Yadav, and Gujjars have leveraged agricultural surplus for entry into bureaucracy and market spaces, while Dalits, even with enhanced political representation, continue to experience structural vulnerabilities. Similarly, the tribes have also articulated their distinct position within Rajasthan’s social structure. Finally, the paper ends by demonstrating how traditional social categories are renegotiated within the changing agrarian contexts, economic processes, and political contestation.