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This paper examines the role that SHGs (self-help groups) have played in the creation of ‘civic growth’ and changing electoral politics in India. Based on ethnographic engagement in a village in West Bengal before and after the formation of these groups, the impact of the transformative effect of these groups on women is placed in a wider political context. The activity of the SHG enabled horizontal solidarities to emerge despite the vertical divisions in village society and successfully challenge the status quo. It builds on a growing literature on women’s empowerment and capacity for collective action through SHGs to show that the notion of ‘empowerment’ can be extended to include the capability for active citizenship and skills in how to do politics, what Arendt calls ‘natality’.

We speak to Dr Mukulika Banerjee, Associate Professor in LSE Department of Anthropology, about her new book Cultivating Democracy: Politics and Citizenship in Agrarian India, which explores how agrarian life in rural India creates values of citizenship and active engagement that are essential for the cultivation of democracy.

Amid protests, it is the quotidian lessons of citizenship that have been taught and practised over seven decades that are now being used to express what it is to be Indian, argues Mukulika Banerjee (Director, LSE South Asia Centre).

This article offers a comprehensive set of explanations for why people vote. Based on evidence from Indian elections, where voter turnouts remain consistently high—and rising—despite voting not being compulsory, the article shows that two broad sets of reasons exist. First, a set of transactional factors, labelled ‘money’ here, encompass within it the instrumental and coercive reasons that propel people to vote. Secondly, evidence shows that people also attribute ‘meaning’ to the act of voting itself so they vote for the sake of performing the act itself. Drawing from the wider literature and the author's own ethnographic work, including comparative ethnographic research conducted by a team across India, this article brings together these diverse set of reasons to propose a holistic explanation for why people vote.

LSE’s Dr Mukulika Banerjee introduces a new interdisciplinary research project that will examine electoral politics at the grassroots level in India to analyse evolving forms of democratic governance and ask ‘why people vote’.

LSE’s Mukulika Banerjee moderates a discussion on the rise of cricket in India and its relationship to the country’s politics and culture.

Mukulika Banerjee reflects on the Aam Aadmi Party’s landslide victory in the Delhi Assembly Elections and argues that it challenges the perception that politics is by definition a dirty and selfish game. At the same time, she acknowledges that the AAP is on its second chance and will face an uphill struggle to meet voter expectations without falling foul of cynics and political opponents.

As the world’s largest democracy heads to the polls, LSE academics Mukulika Banerjee and Sumantra Bose debate why Indians vote, how this election will differ from previous ones, and what other democracies can learn from India. Read Part One of this e-debate here.

Frontier Gandhi died on 20 January 1988, 40 years after Gandhi was assassinated on 30 January 1948. Their relationship – both personal and political – holds profound lessons for the world today. The Pathans (or Pashtuns) of the North West Frontier are regarded as a warrior people. Yet in the inter-war years there arose a Muslim movement, the Khudai Khidmatgar, which drew its inspiration from Gandhian principles of non-violent action and was dedicated to an Indian nationalism. On the anniversary of the death of Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan, founder of the Khudai, Mukulika Banerjee reflects on the legacy of this unique movement among that challenged traditional perceptions of wild and “hot-headed” Pashtuns and their relationship with Gandhi.

As voting begins in national elections in the world’s largest democracy, LSE academics Mukulika Banerjee and Sumantra Bose debate why Indians vote, how this election will differ from previous ones, and what other democracies can learn from India. Click here for Part Two of this e-debate.

Mukulika Banerjee reflects on the Indian Prime Minister’s performance at Wembley Stadium last Friday. She writes that the 60,000 strong audience that turned out to see Modi speak during his visit to the UK wants desperately to believe India finally has a leader who will turn around the country’s fortunes and put an end to their sense of shame at its failings.

Next week, India at LSE will become the South Asia at LSE blog as it becomes part of the new LSE South Asia Centre. SAC Director Mukulika Banerjee introduces the Centre and highlights the significance of the region at this time.

As Assembly election results are announced across India, Mukulika Banerjee discusses the Indian enthusiasm for elections. She challenges notions that high turnouts are linked to intimidation or inducements, and writes that for many the secret ballot offers hope and reaffirms their identity as an equal citizen of India, worthy of respect. This post forms part of a series of posts on the 2016 Legislative Assembly Elections. Click here to read more.

Mukulika Banerjee discusses Diego Maiorano’s new book, which looks in detail at Indira Gandhi’s last years as Prime Minister. She highlights the synergies between Mrs Gandhi and current PM Narendra Modi, and writes that this study of the years 1980-1984 offers important insights into key traits which characterise Indian politics today.

Last Saturday, a new statue of Mahatma Gandhi was unveiled in Parliament Square. Here, Mukulika Banerjee offers a brief overview of the ceremony and Gopalkrishna Gandhi’s sensitive speech is posted in full.

Yesterday the results were announced for five legislative elections held in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa. Mukulika Banerjee, Surajit Bhalla, Meghnad Desai and Maitreesh Ghatak, who were at LSE for the fourth LSE SU India Forum, gathered to discuss key trends and features emerging from the results.

Last Wednesday Why India Votes? a book by Mukulika Banerjee, Associate Professor of Anthropology at the LSE, was launched at the House of Lords. The panel featured Jonathan Spencer, Regius Professor of South Asian Language, Culture and Society at Edinburgh University, Salil Tripathi, journalist and Director of policy at the Institute of Human Rights & Business, and Dr Banerjee herself. The event was hosted and chaired by Lord Bikhu Parekh. Sonali Campion reports.