Dalal Benbabaali is a PhD student in Social Geography from University of Paris 10, under the supervision of Prof. Frédéric Landy, since September 2005. She joined the CSH in November 2008 as an affiliated student. Dalal Benbabaali is working on the socio-economic mobility of a dominant caste from Andhra Pradesh (Kammas). Basically a farming community, the Kamma caste has risen to dominance through control over land, then through diversification into business and industries. Members of this community have also entered the professions in large numbers. The thesis will try to show how the Kammas have become both agents and beneficiaries of the economic reforms in Andhra Pradesh, notably through their support of the Telugu Desam Party.