CASTE DYNAMICS AND SUBALTERN PARTICIPATION IN GRAM SANSAD: A STUDY OF LOCAL GOVERNANCE IN WEST BENGAL

The Gram Sansad is an important part of India’s system of grassroots democracy. The Panchayati Raj system set it up as a constitutional body. Its purpose is to give people a place to directly participate in government, hold elected officials accountable, and work together to set local development goals. Based on the basic ideas of democratic decentralisation, the institution shows the possibility of self-governance that is open to everyone and encourages participation. This study offers a critical, human-centered analysis of the Gram Sansad’s functioning in West Bengal, concentrating on caste dynamics and the traits of subaltern participation. The article asserts that, although the Gram Sansad provides a superficial democratic structure, substantial participation by marginalised socioeconomic groups is profoundly constrained, as demonstrated by constitutional stipulations, political theory, and an extensive analysis of interdisciplinary research. Deeply rooted caste hierarchies, which are linked to class differences, political favouritism, and everyday institutional practices, continue to shape who has access to, representation in, and power in local government. As a result, involvement often appears symbolically instead of promoting meaningful discussion or empowerment. This study places the Gram Sansad within extensive discourses on democracy, social justice, and power, thereby facilitating a critical reassessment of participatory governance in caste-stratified rural societies such as India.