The author’s aim is laudable: a study of the elite among the former untouchables or Harijans of Bihar. But who are the elite? To Sachchidananda they are represented in a sample of 200 graduates in urban areas and matriculates from villages. Further. the elite are drawn from ‘public services and political and social workers.’ The politicians are legislators, but we are not given any details on the nature of public service. Thus, the elite would include equally the first generation literate school teacher in a remote village as well as the seasoned legislator who has been wielding power for several years.
Sept-Oct 1977, volume 2, No 5