MAPPING GRASSROOTS DEMOCRACY AND EMPOWERMENT: TWO CASE STUDIES

paper deals in the changing nature of the power structure in the rural Punjab particularly in the post-green revolution era. It also reflects upon the impact of terrorist violence (1978-92) on the very nature of the working of the grassroots level democratic institutions at the village level. The paper seeks to analyze the causes and consequences of the changing nature of the village level politics in Punjab which is more or less factional one. Holding of the land and traditional caste superiority factors seem not to be a dominant factor in these two case studies. While on the other hand a political organized ideological group and fight for a common cause at the grassroot level could become a rallying point to alter the traditional power structure as it is in the case of this paper.