R. Ramakumar is an economist by training and is currently a Professor at the School of Development Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. His areas of interest include agricultural economics, and development economics, focusing on poverty and inequality. He was earlier the Dean of the School of Development Studies and the NABARD Chair Professor at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. From September 2016, he has also been serving as a non-ministerial member of the Kerala State Planning Board. He has written two books -- of which the most recent one "Distress in the Fields" (2022) has been acclaimed by reviews as an authoritative account of agriculture in India over the past three decades. He also writes extensively in newspapers and magazines.
In this episode of Podcast Matters, Professor Ramakumar discusses the intersections of caste and agrarian relations in India, focusing on how these dynamics foster social inequality. Emphasizing the diverging views of historical figures like Gandhi, Nehru, and Ambedkar, he illustrates how caste has persisted as a system of exploitation, particularly due to land ownership. Highlighting the Marxist perspective, he details how land reform and the weakening of landlordism are pivotal to breaking caste domination. Ramakumar also reviews Kerala's successful land reform initiatives and ongoing efforts such as the Forest Rights Act, housing schemes, and poverty elimination programs.
For more podcasts from the series click here; Land and Labour in Rural India
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