"In continuation of his study of the underclass in rural Gujarat, Jan Breman's present book traces the historical antecedents of the ongoing subordination of rural labor. He takes a retrospective look at the dynamics of social and political developments before and since Independence. This forms the basis of his new fieldwork in south Gujarat carried out between 2004 and 2006." "This book will be of interest to students and scholars of sociology, anthropology, development studies, and labour studies."--BOOK JACKET.