The processes of political mobilization and identity formation in the rural regions of Bombay Presidency between 1934 and 1947 are the major focus of this work. Studying the politics of the masses, their aspirations and demands—both within the formal institutional frameworks of the colonial `public space` as well as outside it—this book provides insights into political and social change in 20th century India. Emphasizing micro-level revolts—which, rather than subaltern militancy, express a collective endeavour by the people to solve their local problems by wresting immediate and tangible concessions—this book: - Details the multiple forms of mobilization and resistance among various groups—women, peasants, elites, lower castes and tribals. - Explores issues such as the nature of social conditions, leadership and participants; the development of mass consciousness; the moralities and methods of mobilization; and, the role of religious symbols and popular culture in such mobilizations. - Delineates various facets of peasant mobilization over 1934–47, including the peasants` response to political processes and their relationship with political associations, and the nature of agrarian conflicts as well as that of peasants` identity. - Studies both the collective action of tribals—in the form of crimes for survival, religious reform and politically motivated struggle—and Dalit mobilization around the issue of untouchability. - Contributes to the theoretical debate on nationalism and identity while critiquing the three main strands of nationalist thought as represented by Ernest Gellner, Anthony D Smith and Benedict Anderson.

"Making extensive use of data culled from government archives and private papers in India and Britain, as well as from village surveys, farm accounts and family budgets, the author argues that Punjab was by no means an idyllic land of prosperous peasant proprietors. She maintains that it was also the land of big feudal landlords, rack-rented tenants, and struggling small-holders, who were forced to enlist in the army or migrate to enable their families to pay government taxes and to repay debts."--BOOK JACKET.

The narrative of this book is built around the historical experiences of the Paraiyars of Tamil Nadu. The author traces the transformation of the Paraiyars from an ‘untouchable’ and socially despised community to one that came to acquire prominence in the political scene of Tamil Nadu, especially in early 20th century. Through this framework, the book studies a number of issues: subaltern history, colonial ethnography, agrarian systems, agrarian bondage, land legislations, and the interventions by missionaries and social and political organizations.

Following the Mutiny of 1857, various factors impelled the British to turn to the province of Punjab in north-western India as the principal recruiting ground for the Indian Army. This book examines the processes by which the politics and political economy of colonial Punjab was militarised by the province`s position as the `sword arm` of the Raj. The militarisation of the administration in the Punjab was characterised by a conjunction of the military, civil and political authorities. This led to the emergence of a uniquely civil-military regime, a phenomenon that was not replicated anywhere else in British India, indeed in the Empire. Analysing these events, this book: - Studies the manner in which the Punjab became the main recruiting ground for the Indian Army - Looks at how certain districts were selected for military recruitment, and the factors motivating the `military classes` among the Punjabis to join the Army - Discusses the effects of the First World War on the recruitment process in the Punjab - Highlights the role the civil-military regime played in the politics of the Punjab, its survival after the Second World War and the manner in which it handled the demand for Pakistan and the subsequent partitioning of the province.

This book explores the identity of American Indians from an Indigenous perspective and how outside influences throughout history, from the arrival of Columbus in 1492 to the twenty-first century, have affected Native people. Non-Native writers, boarding school teachers, movie directors, bureaucrats, churches, and television have all heavily impacted how Indians are viewed in the United States. Drawing on the life experiences of many American Indian men and women, this volume reveals how American Indian identity comprises multiple identities, including the noble savage, wild savage, Hollywood Indian, church-going Indian, rez Indian, urban Indian, Native woman, Indian activist, casino Indian, and tribal leader. Indigenous people, in their own voices, share their experiences of discrimination, being treated as outsiders in their own country, and the intersections of gender, culture, and politics in Indian-white relations. Yet the book also highlights the resilience of being Indian and the pride felt from being a member of a tribe(s), knowing your relatives, and feeling connected to the earth. Being Indian and Walking Proud is a compelling resource for any reader interested in Indigenous history, including students and scholars in Native American and Indigenous studies, anthropology, and American history.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak was a frontline fighter, intimately involved with the Indian national movement. This book explores Tilak's engagements, not just with the Indian national movement, but also the nuanced diversities associated with a context that preceded the mass movements. Based on a variety of sources, the contributors attempt to historicize a nationalist icon. In the process, the reader is presented with a holistic picture of a leading nationalist personality, including his contradictions and ambiguities. In this sense, the different contributions in this book question the 'received wisdom' associated with Tilak. Bal Gangadhar Tilak: Popular Readings would be of use to those interested in the Indian national movement and the manner in which it intersected with a range of social, cultural and political issues. The 'non-specialist' reader, too, will be interested in the way in which the book makes both Tilak and his context accessible.

Prof. Adapa Satyanarayana Presently Teaching At The Department Of History, Osmania University, Hyderabad. His Other Publications Include: Andhra Peasants Under British Rule, Manohar Publishers, New Delhi, 1991 And Dalit And Upper Castes: Essays In Social History , Kanishka Publishers, New Delhi, 2005. He Has Published About 40 Research Papers In Various National And International Journals. His Current Research Interests Are Social History Of Modern India, With Speical Focus On The Telugu Labour Migrations Abroad.

This book is a comprehensive study of the nationalist movement and politics in Orissa during the 1920s. It examines the national movement in the late nineteenth century and the first two decades of the twentieth century prior to the launch of the Civil Disobedience Movement by focusing on the regional peculiarities, especially the Oriya linguistic and cultural identity movement. Based on extensive research, it reflects upon the emergence of a class of new intelligentsia as an opinion maker of the society, its concern for societal needs, the divergent trends within it, the commonalities and differences among them and the organizational linkages between the local intelligentsia and the nationalists. Despite the contradictions, the author argues that the local and national aspirations were not antagonistic but complemented each other, as witnessed during the Calcutta Congress of 1928, establishing the Indian National Congress’ twin commitments on the question of regional identity and national liberation. National Movement and Politics in Orissa: 1920–29is a valuable contribution to the discourse on the nationalist movement and will be of great interest to students and scholars of modern Indian history as well as to the social science academia.