Sunday, September 28, 2003		Books

Punjab Society: Perspective and Challenges
edited by M.S. Gill. Concept Publishing Company, New Delhi. Pages 362. Rs 750.

THE quantification of development has undergone a perceptional change. The thrust of quantifying economic development in terms of the gross domestic product alone is no longer tenable. Fresh analysis and research view development as fundamentally a process of change that involves the whole society, the economic, socio-cultural, political and physical structure along with the way of life of the people.

Punjab is an interesting and illuminating case study from both economic and sociological viewpoints. The state has shown tremendous economic growth in the agricultural sector. It has also helped Punjab achieve the highest per capita income in the country. The improved economy has gradually initiated change in socio-religious ideology.

The book under review is a compilation of 26 papers dealing with various themes of contemporary Punjab. It tends to draw its line of discussion from Amartya Sen’s view of complementarity between the opening up of economic opportunities and social conditions that facilitate the use of these opportunities. The papers are mostly based on empirical evidence that highlights the social changes and issues generated by economic development. The book has been divided into five sections, each broadly representing the mainstreams of Punjab’s society. The contributors are all academicians from Punjab, who have a first-hand knowledge and experience of the region.

A paper by S.S. Jodhka gives a brief and concise introduction to the state with the help of statistical data. It deals with demographic changes relating to population, administrative units, density of population, sex ratio, birth and death rates, landholding, etc. In another paper, the changing role of schedule castes comes up for analysis, so does the state protection and reservation provided to them and their impact.

The second section takes an overall view of the agrarian development and globalisation and its impact on social change. The research highlights that without proper ideological incorporation, society is bound to be driven by contradiction and conflicts with elements of progress and regress. M.S. Gill’s paper on ‘Dynamics of Caste Land Relations’ is well researched. It deals with the pattern of land distribution and the hold Jat cultivators have over land. There are two papers relating to the role of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and challenges Punjab faces in the changed global environment. Both papers are sketchy, listing some facts related to the WTO only.

The section on ‘Rural Credit Institutions’ points out that the lack of initiative and thrust of commercial banks in the agricultural sector has led to non-formal sector or non-institutional credit agencies, especially commission agents, playing a dominant role in credit financing. The data garnered show that the malaise of indebtedness of the cultivating class is increasing due to escalation in the costs of inputs and heavy social demands. This has led to contradictions in the Punjab economy: on the one hand, you have the highest per capita income and, on the other hand, you have a very high percentage of farmers in debt and insolvent. The papers on women’s empowerment fill a glaring gap in this field of research in Punjab. Rajesh Gill’s paper, ‘Political Empowerment of Women: Lessons from Municipal Corporation of Punjab and Chandigarh,’ is a well-researched micro study. The analysis shows that in spite of women’s participation in the political process and labour force, there is a continuation of patriarchal structure at the familial level extending to every sphere in society and also at the level of political participation.

The last section deals with the impact of development on environment. There has been ecological degradation with the acceleration of economic growth. Ecology and economy have become interwoven as cause and effect. The paper says that solutions to all environmental problems can only come from within society by a resolution of social inequalities. However, the inclusion of a paper on the problems of drug addicts in this section is not merited.

The book, which has covered a wide spectrum of subjects, does not have a strong theoretical framework. It can be helpful to those who are interested in studies on Punjab’s development.