Narayan, S. 2019. Dravidian Years: Politics and Welfare in Tamil Nadu. Oxford University Publications, New Delhi.

Abstract

Narayan’s book “Dravidian Years: Politics and Welfare in Tamil Nadu” is a welcome addition to the ever-burgeoning literature on Tamil Nadu’s successful populist and welfare measures. It tries to answer the ubiquitous question: How have welfare policies been successfully implemented despite rampant political corruption? The book, written by a civil servant turned researcher, provides fresh information, anecdotes and analysis of the state's trajectory of health and nutrition administration. Providing an insider perspective, it throws light on the various factors such as political ideology, lower caste mobilisation, centre-state relations, messianic populism and electoral compulsions in shaping the state and society as it stands today.