Resistance as Negotiation: Making States and Tribes in the Margins of Modern India

Uday Chandra argues that tribal resistance and rebellion in modern India are intertwined with the politics of statemaking, and that tribal subjects have remade their customs and community in the course of negotiations with colonial and postcolonial states. This book challenges the traditional view of tribal resistance as a negation of the modern state and provides a new perspective on the political history of modern India.

Format: Hardback
Length: 340 pages
Publication date: 18 June 2024
Publisher: Stanford University Press

Tribes are a fascinating and complex phenomenon that exists in various parts of the world today, despite being at odds with the modern state system. Acts of resistance and rebellion by groups designated as tribal have captivated and perplexed administrators and scholars alike, particularly in South Asia and beyond. These acts are often seen as tragic yet heroic political acts by subaltern groups confronting powerful states. However, this book challenges this perspective by arguing that statemaking is intricately intertwined with the politics of tribal resistance in the margins of modern India.

Uday Chandra's book draws on fifteen years of archival and ethnographic research to explore the complex relationship between the modern Indian state and its tribal or adivasi subjects. He demonstrates how the modern Indian state and its tribal subjects have made and remade each other throughout the colonial and postcolonial eras, with historical processes of modern statemaking shaping and being shaped by myriad forms of resistance by tribal subjects.

According to Chandra, tribal resistance, whether peaceful or violent, is better understood in terms of negotiations with the modern state rather than its negation. The empirical material unearthed in this book requires rethinking and rewriting the political history of modern India from its tribal margins.

One of the key arguments of the book is that the modern Indian state and its tribal subjects have been shaped by a complex interplay of colonialism, nationalism, and local politics. The colonial period saw the imposition of a centralized state system on India, which led to the marginalization of tribal communities and the erosion of their traditional ways of life. However, the colonial period also saw the emergence of tribal resistance movements, which challenged the colonial state's authority and sought to protect their land and resources.

Postcolonial India saw the continuation of tribal resistance movements, but with a different set of challenges. The Indian state sought to integrate tribal communities into the mainstream of Indian society, but this often led to the loss of their traditional ways of life and the marginalization of their communities. Tribal resistance movements continued to emerge, but they were often met with violence and repression by the state.

Chandra argues that the politics of tribal resistance in modern India is shaped by a number of factors, including the nature of the state, the nature of tribal communities, and the nature of the political system. The state's approach to tribal communities has been characterized by a combination of coercion, assimilation, and integration, with the latter being the most common. However, Chandra argues that assimilation has often been unsuccessful, as it has led to the loss of tribal identity and the erosion of tribal communities' traditional ways of life.

Tribal communities, on the other hand, have been characterized by a strong sense of identity and a strong sense of resistance to external forces. They have developed a range of strategies to resist the state, including peaceful protests, violent resistance, and political mobilization. However, Chandra argues that these strategies have often been ineffective, as the state has been able to use its power and resources to suppress tribal resistance.

The political system in modern India has also played a significant role in shaping tribal resistance. The Indian state has been characterized by a centralized and authoritarian political system, which has limited the ability of tribal communities to participate in the political process. This has led to a sense of political exclusion and marginalization among tribal communities, which has in turn fueled their resistance.

Chandra argues that the politics of tribal resistance in modern India requires a more nuanced and complex approach. He suggests that the state should recognize the unique cultural and political identity of tribal communities and work towards integrating them into the mainstream of Indian society in a way that preserves their traditional ways of life. This will require a significant investment in education, healthcare, and infrastructure in tribal communities, as well as a commitment to protecting their land and resources.

However, Chandra also recognizes that the politics of tribal resistance in modern India is complex and multifaceted, and that there is no simple solution to the problem. He suggests that the state should be willing to engage in dialogue with tribal communities and to work towards finding a solution that is mutually beneficial. This will require a willingness to listen to the concerns of tribal communities and to work towards finding a solution that is based on respect for their rights and dignity.

In conclusion, Uday Chandra's book provides a fascinating and insightful analysis of the politics of tribal resistance in modern India. He demonstrates how the modern Indian state and its tribal subjects have been shaped by a complex interplay of colonialism, nationalism, and local politics, and how tribal resistance movements have emerged as a response to these challenges. Chandra argues that the politics of tribal resistance in modern India requires a more nuanced and complex approach, and that the state should be willing to engage in dialogue with tribal communities and to work towards finding a solution that is mutually beneficial. This will require a significant investment in education, healthcare, and infrastructure in tribal communities, as well as a commitment to protecting their land and resources.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781503638112