Collective Movements and Politics of Identity with M. R. Sharan
In this episode, M. R. Sharan takes us through his book “The Last Among Equals”. We will discuss the gaps between the 'Sarkari' realities and the realities on the ground, the Panchayat Politics, the role of judiciary, and the Mukhiya-Mazdoor dynamics - locating it in the overlap of caste, class, and gender. We will look into the limitations in policymaking and how these grim realities can be changed through collective action.
M.R. Sharan is a graduate student in the Ph.D. programme in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. His primary fields of interest are development economics and political economy. He is part of a series of research projects in India and his work attempts to better understand the linkages between State policy, politics, citizens, and government. He has previously worked as a researcher at the office of the Chief Economic Adviser to the Government of India, JPAL South Asia, and IGC India. He holds a B.A. (Honours) in Economics from Hans Raj College, and an M.A. in Economics from the Delhi School of Economics. He is the author of the novel Blue (Harper Collins, 2014).