Problems in Analysing Rural Class Structure

It is important to understand in detail the socio-economic class structure in rural areas because there is still no satisfactory theory which can explain why various types of peasant associations have developed in certain places and not in others. This paper examines certain aspects of the rural class structure in the Chingleput district of Tamil Nadu. In the process, light is thrown on factors which blur class boundaries. This facilitates understanding of some of the reasons for the lack of sustained peasant organisation in Chingleput district as compared to other areas such as, for example, Tanjore.