PTL100 | Social Transformation and Law

This course builds on the foundation laid by ‘Law, Politics and Society in India’ and constructs a bridge to future courses in the MPP program viz. ‘Law, Policy, and Development’ and ‘Regulatory Governance’. The entry point of the course will be on contextualizing India’s tryst with constitutional democracy within the social, political, and economic transformations that have occurred since the 1940s to the contemporary period.

The course progresses on three registers. Firstly, it will critically assess the project of democratic social transformation that sought to reduce socioeconomic inequalities and transform colonial subjects into rights-bearing citizens. The course evaluates whether the path of economic growth that produced such an unequal society actually ‘trickled down’ to the bottom of the pyramid i.e. the scheduled tribes. Then, we focus on how three social groups viz. scheduled castes, women and Muslims in India have fared in this democratic experiment through the lens of representation and inclusion.

Secondly, we focus on how the human rights framework has become the central pillar on which democratic struggles and contestations hinge today. We look at the theoretical paradigms of human rights and the various national and international legal instruments created to fulfil its mandate. Specifically, we focus on socio-economic rights and India’s journey as a welfare state. We evaluate whether law and public policy based on the ‘rights revolution’ have served the interests of the poor.

Thirdly, we critically assess the role of constitutional, democratic, and ‘fourth branch institutions’ in transforming the stratified Indian society into an enlightened and egalitarian society as envisioned by the framers of the Constitution. Or, whether powerful socio-political and economic groups have captured these vital institutions of the Indian state to serve their agendas and interests instead.

A session-wise list of required readings is also provided in this course outline. The list of required readings is subject to change. Any changes made will be duly intimated to the class well in advance.