Reimagining Democracy: Social Mobilization in Indian Elections

When India held its first elections in 1952, it reinvented what was possible for humanity - hitherto, the notion of democracy was restricted to the small, rich, homogeneous nations of the West. India, a democracy of diversities, took the radical step of adopting universal adult franchise in an impoverished, illiterate, and complex society. Is democracy compatible with a society comprising the multiple identities of caste, class, religion, ethnicity, occupational group, and gender? To understand how the intricacies of Indian society and elections reflect each other, this course delves into the multiple axes of socio-political mobilization in India. How do the politics of gender interact with deep-rooted patriarchies? How do Indian political parties use and misuse caste identities to influence electoral outcomes? How do historical religious fault lines manifest in the 21st century? This course will explore critical themes in Indian society through the lens of its elections. No background in Indian politics is necessary. Student Initiated Course.