This volume investigates the systemic conflicts and social movements that have defined rural India in the post-independence era. Edited by A.R. Desai, a prominent sociologist known for his Marxist analysis of Indian society, the text compiles twenty-five articles from diverse scholars and activists. The collection argues that agrarian unrest is not merely a localized phenomenon but a structural consequence of India's post-colonial development policies and land reform efforts.

Experts and academics frequently cite this collection as a foundational text for understanding the complexities of rural social movements in modern India. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which provides a rigorous, multi-faceted look at the agrarian landscape.