Abstract
The dynamics of social mobility world over have been time, space and existential condition specific, and not universal in nature. Though macro sociological paradigms claimed universal principles precipitated change, these failed to explain in totality space and existential conditions specific phenomenon. Thus, emerged micro and middle range theoretical frameworks mediated by empiricism with underlying pragmatism. The work under review neither dwells upon macro theoretical framework in addressing social mobility, nor completely on micro analysis, but proposes to articulate triangulation as a methodology to address the primary question. It is obvious that to understand the dynamics of land transactions in class, caste and gender social mobility among the people already living and those who come to occupy the redefined and restructured hinterlands the political economy and the processes revolving around become very important. The present work therefore makes a value addition in the analysis of social mobility.
The work has its limitations too, yet in a limited space it provides the trajectory of social mobility taking place due to increased land transactions since 1990s caused by LPG guided developmental activities in and around Lucknow, a traditional city with its own unique culture. This is therefore an accepted reality that Indian metropolitan cities under its grand leap motivated and guided by liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation witnessed considerable market oriented commercial activities. The creation of space for market and its operations, including mega markets, special economic zones, fast transportation, etc., the conversion of hinterlands for urban expansion, the latter further resulted in change of land use from agricultural to non-agricultural activities. This followed development and growth of private housing development projects, mega shopping malls, private health and educational institutions, construction of national highways, etc. Subsequently, the entire ecology of the area changed, hinterlands submerged by urbanisation, expanding urban peripheries engulfed agricultural land, landless marginal and small farmers pushed to do labour in the cities, and affected the villages as a whole in more than one way. Understanding land transactions induced social mobility in the vicinity of metropolis in India, Lucknow in the case of this study, as per the development experience, the author asserts, need for an appraisal of social mobility and changing forms of social stratification in the context of caste, class and gender.
A scrutiny of the work reveals that in the changing postcapitalist corporatised economy and society, the traditional ideological oriented theoretical frameworks’ application in the understanding of emerging socio-economic phenomenon have also been subjected to the process of reductionism. The methodological implication of which is convergence of diverse approaches, called triangulation, enabling the author to understand the intricacies of land transaction induced mobility the context of which remains the traditional caste, class and gender. The author arrives at this argument after examining diverse theoretical frameworks, the empirical works carried in the context of land reforms, green revolution, urbanisation, industrialisation, land prices, land acquisitions, compensation and transactions, with concomitant huge capital investments. Such developments not only impact the character of hinterlands but also social structure of the villages by inducing socio-economic and spatial mobility. Like the other studies, this work also acknowledges the fact that cultural and geographical expansion, not only swallow up surrounding areas but also leads to redefining of rural–urban relationships due to the changing value system of the rural society. It is progressive, boosts social mobility but with limitations. While the social mobility is experienced along the class, caste and gender yet the prevalent inequalities and inequities inherent in these parameters, not only limit but also lead to downward mobility.
One of the critical areas this work, therefore, examines is the political economy of development policy of the state on the basis of which commercialisation induced changes are affected in the society. It is argued, both historically and in the contemporary context, the state controls the land market whether privately owned or the land vested in the state. At the same time, land also being the source of livelihood for more than 65 per cent of the population, the land acquisitions under the Presidential orders not only ignited protests from the farming communities but also caused fragmentation of the agrarian economy and social structure leading to depeasantisation, proletarianisation and embourgeoisement. Although change thus occurring in the hinterlands in close proximity to cities is faster in nature, it also suggests the direction and quantum of social mobility has neither been completely progressive in nature nor brought about class, caste and gender mobility in a homogenous manner. Most importantly, the class, caste and gender relations as compared to the changes in these dimensions in the pre-privatisation era have been more diffused, cutting across each other. Such developments are mainly due to shift from traditional to urban based occupations that have opened up in the new market. In the process, the emotions have given way to some kind of economic rationality along with conspicuous consumption.
To sum up, this work is suggestive of the fact that even pro-capitalist process of commercialisation induced hinterland transactions lead to change in the dynamics of class, caste and gender relationships in rural India. Even if there is a critical appraisal of urbanisation and its diversities, the contemporary LPG scenario questions the concentric zone theory of urban development.