In a typical Western liberal context, deepening of democracy invariably leads to consolidation of ‘liberal values’. In the Indian context, democratization is translated into greater involvement of people not as ‘individuals’ which is a staple to liberal discourse, but as communities or groups. Individuals are getting involved in the public sphere not as ‘atomized’ individuals but as members of primordial communities drawn on religious or caste identity. Community-identity seems to be the governing force. It is not therefore surprising that the so-called peripheral groups continue to maintain their identities with reference to the social groups (caste, religion or sect) to which they belong while getting involved in the political processes despite the fact that their political goals remain more or less identical. By helping to articulate the political voice of the mariginalized, democracy in India has led to ‘a loosening of social strictures’ and empowered the peripherals to be confident of their ability to improve the socio-economic conditions in which they are placed. This is a significant political process that had led to a silent revolution through a meaningful transfer of power from the upper caste elites to various subaltern groups within the democratic framework of public governance.
Greater democratization in India has not necessarily led to
The passage explicitly states that in the Indian context, "Community-identity seems to be the governing force" and that individuals participate in the public sphere "as members of primordial communities drawn on religious or caste identity." It further notes that "peripheral groups continue to maintain their identities with reference to the social groups (caste, religion or sect) to which they belong while getting involved in the political processes." Therefore, greater democratization has not led to the irrelevance of community identity; rather, it underscores its continued salience in political engagement.
Option (A): The passage mentions a "loosening of social strictures" and empowerment of marginalized groups, but it simultaneously emphasizes the continued maintenance of caste and communal identities in political participation. It does not suggest a complete dilution of these identities in the public sphere; instead, it highlights their enduring role in mobilizing individuals.
Option (C): The passage clearly indicates that democratization has led to a "meaningful transfer of power from the upper caste elites to various subaltern groups." This implies a degree of marginalization or at least a reduction in the dominance of elite groups, contradicting the assertion that this has not necessarily occurred.
Option (D): The passage highlights that individuals are involved in the public sphere "as members of primordial communities drawn on religious or caste identity," and that "Community-identity seems to be the governing force." This indicates the continued importance of hereditary identities (caste, religion) in political processes, rather than their relative unimportance compared to class identities. The text does not suggest a shift where class identities have superseded hereditary ones in political mobilization.