Peasant Movements In Post-colonial India: Dynamics Of Mobilization And Identity

The central concern of this book is to examine, in a comprative framework, the ways in which grassroots mobilizations transform and institutionalize themselves, forge new collective identities and articulate new strategies for survival and resistance. Debal K.SinghRoy focuses on three major radical movements-Tebhaga and Naxalite in West Bengal and Telangana in Andhra Pradesh. Based on empirical data and supported by a wide range of secondry sources, the author argues that as spontaneous expressiosn of discountent against oppression, domination and marginalization turn into institutionalized movements, the space for radical challenge shrinks. As exemplified in West Bengal, the co-option of peasant movement by the state has largely stifled the scope for radical action. In Andhra Pradesh, on the other hadn, the relative independence of the grassroots mobilization process has allowed the peasantry to exercise multiple options for collective action. In both states, however, sustained grassroots mobilizations have led to a transformationof the social identity of the peasantry. The author points out that along with these mobilizations, various other groups-including NGOs, civil liberties, women, ethnic, linguistic and farmers- are also working among peasants paving the way for the articulation of new issues and multiple new identities. The result is the creation of a social environment where in the peasants have been conscientised to raise questions, both individually and marginalization as also to articulate forms of resistance against domination. This study of the Indian experienc is placed in the context of theories of peasant identity and resistance to domination. Based on in-depth field date, case studies and interviews combined with a nuanced theoretical approach, this book will be of considerable interest to political scientists, sociologists, historians, anthropologists and all those studying grassroots movements.
About Author :
Debal K. SinghaRoy is Reader in Sociology at the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi. He was earlier an Academic Associate, and Lecturer in Sociology, at IGNOU(1988-96), and a Research Associate at the Centre for Women's Development Studies, New Delhi (9186-88). Besides various journal articles, Dr. Singha Roy has prevfiously published Social Development and the Empowerment of the Marginalised: Perspectives and Strategies (ed.): Women in Peasant Movements: Tebhaga, Naxalite and After and Rural Women, New Technology and Development.
Contents :
List of Tables Preface Towards a Conceptual Framework Radical Peasant Movements: An Interface with History Peasantry in the Emerging Agrarian Social Structure Contemporary Peasant Movements: An Account from Within Trends of Mobilization: From Radicalization to Institutionalization Domination, Dependency and Discontent: Peasant Praxis for New Identity and Autonomy Bibliography Index About the Author.