Describe the changing dynamics of rural conflicts in India. Substantiate with suitable examples.

Rural conflicts in India include the conflicts and contradictions in rural society. This is dynamic over time.

Changing dynamics of rural conflicts in India:

→ Initially, rural conflicts was based on caste. Then, the society was caste centric and ritual hierarchy played major role.

→ Since independence, due to land reforms, the agrarian class structure is changed in rural India.

[eg] Andre Beteille in his study of

Sripuram village, found the change in class-caste-power relation due to land reforms. Land ownership was changed and brahmins hold no more upperhand in changing times according to Andre Beteille.

→ Upsurge of bullock capitalists as coined by Rudolph and Rudolph due to Green revolution led to change in wealth dynamics.

→ Rural conflicts now evolve over caste politics. As Rajni Kothari states politicised caste lead to rural conflicts in Indian villages.

→ Rural conflicts also involve the resource and water management aspects. Environmental crisis led rural conflicts are emerging in recent times.

→ Communal conflicts in rural India now-a-days are after effects of the resacralisation & fundamentalism.

→ Conflicts due to Feminisation of agriculture workers but meagre ownership of land by women is identified by Bina Aggarwal.