ICTs and Indian Social Change: Diffusion, Democracy, Governance.

• Author: Levy, Anna
• Position: Further Reading - Book review

ICTs AND INDIAN SOCIAL CHANGE: DIFFUSION, DEMOCRACY, GOVERNANCE

Ashwani Saith, M. Vijayabaskar and V. Gayathri, eds.

(New Delhi: SAGE Publications, 2008), 424 pages.

Whether one reads all sixteen essays or leafs through a few, readers of ICTs and Indian Social Change will find the language of technology continuously couched in an ethnographic context. Given the 21st century hype around innovative development practice, most notably microfinance, mobile technologies and renewable energies, this collection aims to dissolve the sensationalist interpretation of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in development. Covering ideas related to ICTs and social change, social movements, policy reform and poverty alleviation in India, the text awakens its audience to the reality that technology and reform have been operating in tandem, at least in India, for centuries. The challenge and opportunity presented herein is how to build on existing momentum rather than constantly seeking groundbreaking alternatives.

Initially, Saith...