Protest in Democratic India: Authority’s Response to Challenge

This book explores radical challenges to Indian governments’ legitimacy and power and the responses of the Indian state and central governments to those challenges. Dr. Calman describes the unintended role Indian governments have played in fostering the emergence of radical movements and analyzes the effectiveness of governments in combating their growth. Light is shed on the power of newly developing decentralized movements to politicize impoverished groups and ultimately to challenge the legitimacy of the Indian mode of governing. These new movements, represented in this book by Shramik Sanghatana and Bhoomi Sena of Maharashtra, have more power to effect change than movements that attack the military force of government, like the Naxalites of Srikakulam District, Andhra Pradesh. The book draws upon government documents, a variety of unpublished sources, and extensive interviews with government officials and key participants in radical groups.