He argued that modern politics breaks the vertical bonds and strengthens the horizontal ones. A Chamar (Dalit) in village A has more political common cause with a Chamar in village B than with his own upper-caste landlord.
Rajni Kothari’s Caste in Indian Politics argues that caste is not a barrier to modernization but a crucial, adapting element that politicizes and functions within democracy. The thesis emphasizes a three-stage process where castes act as interest groups, shifting from entrenched power to factionalism and finally to building competitive, multi-caste coalitions. For a detailed breakdown of these concepts, see the analysis on Triumphias.com . Rajni Kothari Caste In Indian Politics 15.pdf
Kothari distinguished between: