Subaltern Perspectives on South Asian History and Society

Subaltern Studies A non-elite perspective on South Asian history A non-elite perspective on South Asian history An attempt to re-write, or retrieve subaltern histories An attempt to re-write, or retrieve subaltern histories This is sometimes attempted by looking for their trace (or even absence) in elite history This is sometimes attempted by looking for their trace (or even absence) in elite history

Who are the subaltern Subaltern as an inferior rank (i.e. the lowest strata in society). The term was used by Antonio Gramsci, and popularised in the subaltern studies literature Subaltern as an inferior rank (i.e. the lowest strata in society). The term was used by Antonio Gramsci, and popularised in the subaltern studies literature The non-elite in colonial India. The elite being ; The non-elite in colonial India. The elite being ; A) Foreign Elite (the colonial state and its officials) B) Indigenous Elite (feudal magnates, industrial and mercantile bourgeoisie, upper levels of the bureaucracy (from Guha 1988)

Example: Guha – The Prose of Counter-Insurgency Guha argues that there is agency for resistance and change within subaltern groups. But while elite forms of resistance are often legalistic (and peaceful) he argues that subaltern resistance is often violent Guha argues that there is agency for resistance and change within subaltern groups. But while elite forms of resistance are often legalistic (and peaceful) he argues that subaltern resistance is often violent He shows how the trace of organised resistance can be uncovered within the elite history – but that the archive is not an accurate record – it is ideologically distorting and partial. He shows how the trace of organised resistance can be uncovered within the elite history – but that the archive is not an accurate record – it is ideologically distorting and partial.

To the Deputy Adjunct General of the Army Sir, Authentic information having reached Government that a body of Fanatic Insurgents are now committing the most daring and wanton atrocities on the inhabitants of the country in the neighbourhood of Tippy in the Magistary of Baraset and have set a defiance and repulsed the utmost force that the local Civic Authority could assemble.. To request that you will without delay.. [send] one complete Battalion of Native Infantry to Barrackpore, and two Six Pounders (from Guha, The prose of counter-insurgency)

TerribleFine Insurgents…………………………………………Peasants Fanatic…………………………………………Islamic Puritan Daring and wanton atrocities…….Resistance to oppression Defying authority of the State……Revolt against Zamindari Disturbing public tranquillity…….struggle for a better order Intention to attack………….Intention to punish oppressors Adapted from Guha The prose of counter-insurgency The records speak of total complicity

Spivak Can the Subaltern Speak? Spivak used the distinction in Marxs famous statement about the peasantryThey cannot represent themselves, they must be represented, to examine the dynamics of subaltern voice and representation Spivak used the distinction in Marxs famous statement about the peasantryThey cannot represent themselves, they must be represented, to examine the dynamics of subaltern voice and representation

Gayatri Spivak Let us now move to consider the margins (one can just as well say the silent, silenced centre) of the circuit marked out by this epistemological violence, men and women among the illiterate peasantry, the tribals, the lowest strata of the urban subproletariat (Can the Subaltern Speak?)Let us now move to consider the margins (one can just as well say the silent, silenced centre) of the circuit marked out by this epistemological violence, men and women among the illiterate peasantry, the tribals, the lowest strata of the urban subproletariat (Can the Subaltern Speak?)

Between patriarchy and imperialism, subject-constitution and object- formation, the figure of the woman disappears, not into pristine nothingness, but into a violent shuttling which is the displaced figure of the third world woman caught between tradition and modernisationBetween patriarchy and imperialism, subject-constitution and object- formation, the figure of the woman disappears, not into pristine nothingness, but into a violent shuttling which is the displaced figure of the third world woman caught between tradition and modernisation (Spivak, Can the Subaltern Speak?)

Spivak on Spivak.. the subaltern cannot speak, means that even when the subaltern makes an effort to the death to speak, she is not heard, and speaking and hearing complete the speech act. That is what I meant, and anguish marked the spot the subaltern cannot speak, means that even when the subaltern makes an effort to the death to speak, she is not heard, and speaking and hearing complete the speech act. That is what I meant, and anguish marked the spot From Subaltern talk, in Landry and Mclean The Spivak Reader (1996)