I started reading this book with my own (mis)understanding of the “rural” and with the whole bag of myths and fabricated non-information around the same as being someone who has been born and brought up in the Urban and has hardly ever been to a village. The only village I had in my mind was from what I heard from my parents and what books could provide to me. Chapter by chapter I could see how my understanding of Indian villages is not only informed by colonially ingrained biases but also by my lack of interest in the subject.

At the very beginning of the book, Surinder Singh Jodhka shakes us to reality by posing an anecdote. At the India International Centre (IIC) in New Delhi, he encountered a former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer who expressed lament over the changes in the village, emphasizing a longing for its past glory. His sentiment echoed a nostalgic perception of the village, contrasting sharply with its current reality. Drawing from this encounter, Jodhka initiates an exploration into the actuality of the Indian village, distinct from the idealized visions of Gandhi, Nehru, and Ambedkar, as well as the romanticized memories held by the retired IAS officer. The lament of this IAS is also the lament of my father, uncles and many politicians I (painfully) have to hear for the fact that political science is my discipline. This book scrutinises these laments.

The Indian Village: Rural Lives in the 21st Century, published by Aleph Book Company in 2023, transcends the idyllic perceptions harboured about Indian villages, delving into their intricate and dynamic realities. Through meticulous ethnographic fieldwork and a comprehensive review of research by Indian and foreign sociologists and anthropologists, Jodhka dismantles entrenched misconceptions, providing a nuanced, contemporary lens through which to comprehend rural India.

At the heart of Jodhka’s narrative lies the dissection of prevalent urban misconceptions surrounding Indian villages. He compellingly critiques the romanticized and nostalgic views often perpetuated by ‘urbanites’, grounded in childhood reminiscences or idealized by popular culture. His analysis challenges this perception, shedding light on the nuanced and complex realities within rural India.

One pivotal thread in Jodhka’s discourse unfurls the historical origins of these misconceptions, tracing them back to colonial times when India was depicted as a realm of stagnant village republics, isolated from external influences. He staunchly refutes this notion, emphasizing the integral role traditional villages played within extensive regional networks, intricately woven with power dynamics and control over agricultural land.

Jodhka further scrutinizes the profound impact of democracy on village structures, spotlighting caste as not merely a ritual hierarchy but a facet intrinsically linked with power dynamics and land ownership. He vividly illustrates how contemporary transformations, including migration and urbanization, have reshaped village societies and economies, disrupting traditional caste-based occupations and hierarchical structures.

Throughout his discourse, Jodhka paints a vivid and realistic portrait of contemporary Indian villages, dispelling the myth of serene and close-knit communities often propagated by popular media. He meticulously traces the erosion of traditional hierarchical structures and the decline of caste-based economic systems, elucidating the transformative effects of phenomena like the Green Revolution and the evolving rural arrangements such as the jajmani system and varna-based occupational segregation.

The work provides a careful exploration of rural India’s intricate dynamics, shedding light on the evolving nature of non-farm occupations, agricultural transformations, and the changing rural economy. This comprehensive analysis transcends conventional perceptions, enriching our understanding of the multifaceted realities shaping contemporary rural India. Jodhka navigates through the intricacies of rural economies, challenging the traditional notion of rural life solely being defined by agrarian pursuits. He highlights the historical underrepresentation of various artisan communities operating outside agriculture, their roles often overlooked within the agrarian-centric economic landscape. The macro data collected by state agencies focused primarily on agrarian indicators and failed to capture the wide spectrum of non-farm occupations pivotal to supporting agricultural operations.

The emergence of newer forms of rural non-farm occupations, notably in construction and manufacturing, prompted economists to acknowledge the significance of the Rural Livelihoods: Agriculture and Non-farm Economy (RNFE). This transformation, alongside the expansion of education and communication networks by the post-independence developmental state, reshaped aspirations within rural communities. The shift led to increased mobility aspirations among those who prospered from the Green Revolution (GR) and acquired formal education, catalysing changes in the rural economy and consumption patterns.

Villages witnessed the rise of local markets and a shift towards modernity as prosperous rural residents invested in durable housing and rural infrastructure. State-driven developmental programs like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) of 2005 further stimulated investment in rural infrastructure, fostering a diverse range of non-agricultural activities. This shift included a surge in petty shopkeeping and the provision of urban-style services catering to local needs, spanning from retail shops offering farm inputs to beauty parlours and tuition centres.

Jodhka further argues that despite India’s significant economic growth since the early 1990s, rural areas remain the crux of the nation’s socio-economic fabric. The statistics from 2011 underscore the enduring rural essence of India, with nearly three-fourths of the workforce residing in rural settlements, surpassing the share of the rural population itself.

Another prominent focal point in Jodhka’s analysis revolves around the status of Dalits within the rural-urban continuum. He scrutinizes the pivotal role of government interventions, particularly land reforms and the Panchayati Raj System, in catalysing the political ascendancy of the Dalit community. Additionally, he critically examines government schemes like MGNREGA, advocating for enhanced monitoring and refinement to better serve the marginalized and impoverished sections of society.

Jodhka dissects the clashes and compromises between the visions of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Bhimrao Ambedkar for rural India. Gandhi’s notion of a village republic conflicts with Ambedkar’s concerns about caste disparities, while Nehru endeavours to balance industrialization with rural development. He intriguingly concludes that the Indian village, far from the romanticized imagery often held by urban dwellers, is vibrant and dynamic. He also challenges the utility of the urban/rural binary in comprehending India’s social and economic landscape. 

The Indian Village: Rural Lives in the 21st Century by Surinder S. Jodhka stands as an indispensable scholarly contribution, unravelling misconceptions and presenting a comprehensive tapestry of rural India’s multifaceted realities. Jodhka’s scholarly prowess, underpinned by empirical research and critical analysis, renders this book imperative for scholars, policymakers, and individuals seeking profound insights into the ever-evolving landscape of Indian villages.

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Anjali Chauhan is a doctoral researcher at the Department of Political Science, University of Delhi.