Ethnicity in Post-Independent India: A Sociological Perspective on Its Causes and Manifestations

Abstract

The surge in ethnic unrest and conflicts in India in recent years has become a matter of serious concern. Linguistic assertions, communalism, regionalism, caste conflictsand tribal identity movements-all are on the rise. They are not only choking the developmental efforts but also threatening the unity and integrity of the nation. Acute poverty and inequality, political maneuvering and deleterious effects of hasty globalization are some of the critical factors responsible for the intensification of ethnic assertions in India. This paper is an attempt to look into the causes and manifestations of heightened ethnicity in India and also the response of the Indian state to such ethnic turmoil and conflicts.