Nationhood, Social Justice and Unequal Transformations: Essays for K.R.Narayanan is a commemorative volume consisting of lectures delivered at the Centre for Research and Education for Social Transformation, Kozhikode during the past fifteen years on varied themes that reflect the democratic and secular values cherished by K.R. Narayanan. Shri K.R.Narayanan, the late President of India, was a statesman of eminence whose remarkable achievements straddled the multiple realms of diplomacy, administration, institution-building, and scholarship. His rise from growing up as a Dalit boy from Travancore to becoming the President of India is a saga of courage, resistance, self-belief, and an unending passion for learning. This dedicatory volume explores topics ranging from nation-building to independent India’s socio-economic, political, educational, and cultural transformations. The essays herein copiously draw from Narayanan’s insights into the making of a humanist and secular India and highlight issues relating to caste, gender, religion as well as the triumphs and pitfalls that characterize the nation’s frenetic journey after Independence. Presenting a unique overview of India as an evolving democracy, this book provides critical insights into the intertwined nature of the democracy and the worldview of its citizens. Contents List of Tables Acknowledgements Introduction 1. Case Indignities and Subjected Personhoods by A R Vasavi 2. Empowerment of Dalits and Adivasis: The Role of Education in the Emerging Indian Economy by Narendra Jadhav 3. Modernity, Its Margins, and Authenticity: A Critique by Gopal Guru 4. Caste: Ideology and Material Structures: A Feminist Perspective by Uma Chakravarti 5. Kerela and Nehru: A Continuing Dialogue by Gopalkrishna Gandhi 6. Democratizing Higher Education in the Twenty-first Century: The Road Beyond Access by Satish Deshpande 7. India: Nation of Nations by Madhavan K Palat 8. The Provocations of the Public University in Contemporary India by Janaki Nair 9. Beyond the Eurocentrism/Indigenism Binary: Counter-narratives to Hindutva Claims by Nivedita Menon 10. Indian Culture and its Margins by T M Krishna Bibliography Notes on Editors and Contributors Index About the Editor: D.D. Nampoothiri is Executive Director of the Center for Research and Education for Social Transformation (CREST), Calicut. He was previously a Professor of Sociology at The Zamorin’s Guruvayoorappan College, Kozhikode. His areas of research include social transformation in India and the sociology of the underprivileged. T.Y. Vinod Krishnan is Associate Programme Coordinator at CREST. As a social anthropologist, he has worked for the past three decades on developmental issues of indigenous people/minorities in India, Sri Lanka, and SouthEast Asia, particularly Vietnam. He is currently working on issues related to the Adivasi, Dalit, and fishing communities of Kerala and their social exclusion in higher education. Ashley Paul is Associate Programme Coordinator, CREST, and has been a Professor of English at Malabar Christian College, Calicut. Anoop Jayaprakash, is Course Coordinator, CREST, and was formerly Assistant Professor of Commerce at SNES College, Calicut. He has numerous published papers in management studies to his credit.