Politico-Peasantry Conflict in India

The book presents a detailed critical appraisal of land reform policies and the on going conflict in rural India. It analyses how political institutions, political ideologies, leadership and political values interact on land relations and influence it, indirectly if not directly. The interplay of rural interest groups, bureaucrats, and political parties are well examined. The Author has argued that no progress can be made without significant changes in the social structure and power relations that have created and perpetuated incredible levels of poverty and suffering for much of the rural population. Given the strength of these structures and of the elites who are advanced by them, such change requires substantial popular mobilisation as well as a committed government. Though the discussions centre on the issues of land reforms and peasantry in Uttar Pradesh the views expressed and shared are useful to a cross section of the persons interested in land reforms in India.

Suresh Misra holds his Master degree in Political Science from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi and D.Phil. from Allahabad University, Allahabad. He is perceptive researcher whose major interest centres around Indian government and politics, particularly rural politics. He was an ICSSR Doctoral Fellow at Govind Ballabh Pant Social Science Institute, Allahabad. Currently Dr. Misra in a Research Associate at Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi.