Community Dominance and Political Modernisation

This book examines the relevance of Prof. M.N. Srinivas's concept of a dominant caste with reference to the Lingayat Community. While Prof. M.N. Srinivas applied his concept of a dominant caste at a micro level (village level - Rampura), the present study has applied it at a macro level (state level). The basic elements of the dominant caste like numerical strength, economic power, political power, education, higher social status and respectable occupation as listed by Prof. M.N. Srinivas are also valid with regard to the Lingayat community at the macro level. However, the study has found ten new secondary/supportive elements of dominance with regard to the Lingayat Community. The book focuses its light on the reactions of the dominant Lingayat community to the modernisation and democratic processes through ten chapters. It traces the history of the Lingayat community from the ancient period to the modern period in terms of its evolution in religious and social philosophy, structures and practices. It narrates the traditional and modern means and methods adopted by the Lingayat leaders to modernise their community and to involve it in the political process to achieve certain goals. It explains how and why the Lingayat community shifted its priority from the sectarian mobilization to the general mobilization for national movement and movement for Karnataka unification. It states and analysis how the Lingayat community is numerically, socially, educationally, economically and politically dominant with the help of facts and figures and assesses the role of the secondary/supportive elements of dominance in strengthening the dominance of the Lingayats in various fields. It also describes how the Lingayat community has moved away from dominant politics to competitive politics in view of emergence of newly awakened weaker sections in recent years in the politics of Karnataka State.

Dr. S.H. Patil is a Professor of Political Science (Retd.) Karnataka University, Dharwad, and was I.C.S.S.R. Senior Fellow and U.G.C. Emeritus Fellow. Heis the author of the following books: The Congress Partyand princely States, Gandhi and Swaraj, A Text Book of Political Thought, Modern Western Political Thought, Central Grants and State Autonomy, Political Analysis (Co-author), Bharatadalli Dharamanirapekshe (Secularism in India, Dharwad), and BharatadSwatantra Mattu Karnataka Ekikaran: Lingayatar Patra (The Role of the Lingayats in the Freedom Movement and Karnataka Unification, Co-editor, Gadag). His thirty articles have been published in the following academic journals: Social Sciences, Gandhi Marg, Political Science Review, Indian Journals of Politics, Journal of Constitutional and Parliamentary Studies, India Quarterly, ISDA Journal, Man and Development, Journal of Government and Political Studies, Basava Journal and Indian Journals of Secularism. Some of his articles are abstractedin (i)International Political Science Abstracts, Paris, and (ii) I.C.S.S.R. Journal of Abstracts and Reviews, New Delhi.