Jointly written by an economist/literacy activist and a serving officer of the Indian Administration Service, Literacy and Empowerment is a vivid and lively account of a celebrated mass literacy campaign in the backward district of Pudukkottai in Tamil Nadu. Set in the context of IndiaAEs policies and programs to advance adult education during the past 50 years, the book is divided into three sections. The first section traces IndiaAEs adult education efforts within the larger framework of mass literacy campaigns. The second section is an extensive account of the campaign, showing how the combined energies of activists and administration succeeded in converting one of the least developed districts in the country to a fully literate one. Of particular note is the outstanding participation of women as learners, instructors, trainers, and organizer-activists. In the final section, authors Venkatesh B. Athreya and Sheela Rani Chunkath review the experience with mass literacy campaigns throughout India between 1989 and 1995. This fascinating blend of historical analysis, contemporary narrative, and critical reflection will be extremely useful to all those involved in social work, literacy, education, development work, social movements, political science, and sociology.

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