Subaltern Movements in India

Description

This volume explores subaltern movements in India from a historical perspective, investigating the consciousness, voice of dissent, and micro-histories of oppressed and marginalized social groups. Drawing on interdisciplinary methods inspired by Antonio Gramsci and Ranajit Guha, the book examines how subaltern categories—including peasants, tribals, Dalits, women, and religious or linguistic minorities—negotiate power structures related to caste, class, gender, and region.

Organized into five main sections, the collection presents twenty-two research papers covering diverse themes. The first section offers perspectives and critiques on subaltern studies, incorporating discussions on Gramsci, Jain studies, and marginalized poetry. Subsequent sections investigate the evolution, phases, and contemporary challenges of the Dalit movement, the historical and economic contexts of women's movements, including local ecological and water protests, as well as tribal, peasant, and labour movements. Through these diverse case studies, the book documents the struggles, identities, and resistance of marginalized communities in modern India.