Subject(s): Panchayat in India. -- Historical background : National setting, first generation, second generation, decentralization- legislative and constitutional support, from legislation to movement -- Experience of Karnataka : 1987 panchayat elections, is Panchayati raj withering away in Karnataka, Karnataka puts the clock back -- Experience of Orissa, west Bengal and China : Orrisa leads the way, west Bengal panchayat polls of 1993, Chinese experiment with local self government -- Politics and panchayats : Congress (I), national front, left democratic front in Kerala -- Critical issues : Women in panchayati raj- beginning of a silent revolution, political parties and panchayat elections