Understanding social movements is a complex process. Social movements are more or less persistent, organized effort on the part of a relatively large number of people to bring about or resist social change. They are best understood through different theories such as Functionalism, Marxism, Theory of Collective Action, Relative Deprivation Theory, Strain Theory, Resource Mobilization Theory and New Social Movement Theories. Further understanding of social movements is done through the study of the type of movements. Sociologists and social scientists have studied social movements as revolutionary, reform, reactionary and religious movements. Different movements have different causes and outcomes. But all movements generally go through a life cycle marked by the progressive stages of emergence, coalescence, bureaucratization, and decline. India has seen many movements right from Buddhism and Jainism which can be considered reform movements. At the beginning of last century there was freedom movement followed by a series of environmental movements after independence like Save Silent Valley movement, Chipko movement, Narmada Bachao Andolan and lately Nirbhaya movement and MeToo movement. First section of this volume is devoted to the conceptual and theoretical understanding of social movements. Contributions in this volume are further categorized into five Indian social movements – Tribal, Dalit, Backward Classes, Environmental and Women’s movements. The book will be useful for students, researchers, teachers, administrators and planners. CONTENTS Section I – Introduction 1 Social Movements: An Introduction I Richard Pais 2 Social Movements: Conceptual Understanding I M.H. Makwana 3 Understanding Social Movements: Reflections of Theoretical Orientation and Shifting Paradigms I Manoj Chhaparia Section II – Tribal Movements 4 Trends in Tribal Movements: A Comparative Analysis of Northern and Southern Regions of India I Y. Ravindranath Rao 5 Tribal Movement in Jharkhand I Rashmi and Prabhat Kumar Singh Section III – Dalit Movements 6 Dalit Movements in India I Jagan Karade and Avinash Bhale 7 Dalit and Democratic Movement in India: A Socio-Historical Perspective I Rajesh Lakum 8 Dalit Movement in Gujarat I M.H. Makwana and Rajesh Lakum Section IV – Backward Classes Movements 9 Backward Classes Movement: A Case Study of Tamil Nadu I Richard Pais 10 Backward Classes Movement in Karnataka: A Case Study of Yadava Movement I M. Gurulingaiah Section V – Environmental Movements 11 Society and Environment I Vinay Rajath D. 12 Environmental Movements in India: Issues and Dynamics I Sumit Saurabh Srivastava Section VI – Women’s Movements 13 The Women’s Movement in India: A Reflection I Archana Srivastava 14 Feminism in India: An Empowering Journey I V. Basil Hans 15 Caste and Women’s Movement in India: An Uncomfortable Alliance I Sumit Saurabh Srivastava ABOUT THE AUTHOR / EDITOR M.H. Makwana was Professor and Head, Department of Sociology; Coordinator, Department of Social Work and Director, School of Social Sciences, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad. He was also the Chair Professor of Dr B.R. Ambedkar Chair of the University. Post-retirement, he was appointed as the Dean, School of Social Sciences, Dr B.R. Ambedkar University of Social Sciences, Mhow, MP. During his teaching career and afterwards, he has worked as writer of articles and books, editor and sub-editor of research journals, organizer of seminars and conferences, office bearer of associations, convener of Research Committees, member of the ‘Court of Gujarat University’, member of NAAC Committee and finally member, advisory committee of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. Richard Pais was Professor and Head, Department of Sociology, St Aloysius (Autonomous) College, Mangaluru. At present, he is the Vice-President of Indian Social Science Association, Agra. Besides teaching, he was actively engaged in the organization of academic events at the national, state and regional levels. He received the L.P. Vidyarthi Award (2007) in Agra, Sulabh International Gold Medal (2014) in New Delhi and Indian Social Science Association Award (2016) in Lucknow for his contribution to Sociology and Social Sciences. He has written/edited 24 books and numerous research papers. At present, he is the Managing Editor of Samaja Shodhana, Managing Editor of Social Science Gazetteer and Editor of Sulabh Journal of Action Sociology. He is also the Academic Consultant for Sulabh International Social Service Organisation, New Delhi.