GROUND DOWN BY GROWTH
ABOUT
Travelling the length and breadth of the subcontinent, Ground Down by Growth shows how India’s ‘untouchables' and ‘tribals' fit into the global economy.
India’s Dalit and Adivasi communities make up a staggering one in twenty-five people across the globe but remain amongst the most oppressed. The book shows how capitalism entrenches, rather than erases, social difference and has transformed traditional forms of identity-based discrimination into new mechanisms of exploitation and oppression.
Through studies of the working poor, migrant labour and the conjugated oppression of caste, tribe, region, gender and class relations, the social inequalities generated by capitalism are exposed.
FEATURES AND EVENTS
‘Ground Down by Growth’ was the result of research carried out over the course of an EU and ERC funded Programme of Research on Inequality and Poverty for which Alpa Shah was the Principal Investigator. It involved a wide ranging series of related features and events which included an exhibition of photographs, a policy brief, an Adivasi Fellowship programme and a programme of seminars, lectures and talks. You can also view a report on the impact of this work.
REVIEWS
‘Analytical rigor paired with lucid prose makes this co-researched and co-authored book indispensable for scholars and citizens concerned with the Global South, inequality, capitalism, economic growth, and social difference.’ New Books Network
'Highly recommended for its careful attention to ethnographic detail, its systematically comparative approach and its grasp of political economy.' Journal of Contemporary Asia
'A fascinatingly grounded book that explores and demonstrates how India’s, otherwise, impressive economic growth post-liberalisation, far from ‘trickling down’ to all groups has, in fact, worsened further the already precarious position of the Dalits and the Adivasis, including in the more economically developed states of the Indian Union.' Indian Journal of Labour Economics
‘The research team has worked together over several years, collaborating, obviously mentoring each other. They have produced nuanced development studies and specific methods of research as models for further work.’ The Hindu
‘An exciting multi-authored volume that poses fundamental challenge to the simplistic growth stories pedalled by media pundits and governing politicians alike.’ Journal of South Asian Development
MEDIA
BBC Radio 4 Four Thought. Alpa Shah reflects on democracy, mining and development for tribal people. Live broadcast from Somerset House on 9/12/2015
BBC Radio 4 Thinking Allowed. Alpa Shah discusses poverty programmes in India with Laurie Taylor and Akhil Gupta on 28/11/12.
BBC World Service Weekend. Alpa Shah discusses economic growth and inequality in India with Michael Binyon and Shoma Chowdhry (17/12/2017)
New Books Network radio interview with Alpa Shah on ‘Ground Down by Growth’ (08/2019)