Eclipse of Old Sanctions

Contradiction and Change by Anand Chakravarti is the outcome of intensive field work in Devisar, a multi-caste village in Rajasthan. The book is of interest to the serious student of sociology. This is not a light book to be pursued by those who are interested in getting a glimpse of the process of the changing patterns of Indian society. Anand Chakravarti within the limited framework of his study has, with great care and insight, shown the role that modern institutions play in a traditional ritualistic society. He has, furthermore, shown that because old sanctions are being eclipsed there is no dramatic change of the system. There is a period when traditional etiquette coexists with modern institutions. This is in spite of secular authority being backed by the police and governmental agencies. Through case histories, he has convincingly shown that villagers make their own equations with the police and thus compromise to some extent their work ethics. The main reforms that affected the villagers were land reforms, adult franchise and democratic decentralization. This affected leadership roles, overthrowing Rajput supremacy. The relations of superordination and subordination based on Rajput dominance gave way to the people deciding in what caste coalition lay their interests.