• Sambhrant Shukla

Rise of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) into both economic and political prominence has been one of the most defining and important events of the post colonial India. It has been able to challenge the established power and caste structure, ensured greater involvement of the neglected and subaltern communities in the decision making process and hence has led to greater outreach of democracy among the masses. Ram Manohar Lohia provided the intellectual background for the birth of this surge and it was duly popularized by his followers. At a broader level it can be associated with the larger process of mobilization of the marginalized groups which apart from OBCs also consist of such groups as the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes etc., against the upper caste domination. It has provided an umbrella for the erstwhile distributed peasant and intermediary communities to voice their grievances and get them addressed. But at the same time it has been criticized by many for various reasons ranging from ‘vote-bank politics’, promoting the feeling of groupism and acting against the nation etc.

OBCs, Kalelkar Commission, Mandal Commission, Mandalisation, Ram Manohar Lohia.

"Mandalisation of Indian politics: surge of the Other Backward Classes in North India and its consequences", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 4, page no.19-25, April-2019, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1904P04.pdf

"Mandalisation of Indian politics: surge of the Other Backward Classes in North India and its consequences", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 4, page no. pp19-25, April-2019, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1904P04.pdf