This book investigates the intersection of caste hierarchy and environmental policy in India, questioning how social stratification influences access to natural resources and the implementation of conservation efforts. Mukul Sharma, a scholar specializing in environmental politics and social movements, utilizes a combination of historical analysis and contemporary case studies to argue that environmentalism in India has historically ignored the caste dimension. He posits that dominant-caste perspectives have shaped policies that often marginalize Dalit communities, framing the environment as a neutral space while ignoring the systemic inequalities embedded in land use and resource management.

Experts in South Asian studies and environmental sociology recognize this work as a significant contribution to the discourse on social inequality and ecological policy. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the depth of the research, which challenges conventional narratives within the Indian environmental movement.