Rule of the Commoner: DMK and Formations of the Political in Tamil Nadu, 1949-1967

The DMK has been treated as a Tamil nationalist or ethno-nationalist formation, but Rule of the Commoner argues that it appealed to a federalist and not nationalist imagination. It achieved the construction of a people as Dravidian-Tamil, with Tamil being the empty signifier of the social whole and the Brahmin vs. non-Brahmin divide functioning as the internal frontier leading to the formations of the political.

Format: Hardback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 10 November 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has played a unique role in establishing a strong regional identity among the Indian states since the country's transition to a republic. While academic scholarship has often portrayed the DMK as a Tamil nationalist or ethno-nationalist formation, Rule of the Commoner offers a compelling argument that the party appealed to a federalist rather than nationalist imagination. By combining the non-Brahmin Dravidian identity and allegiance to the Tamil language, the DMK created a counterhegemonic formation that resonated with the plebes and left-populist movements.

Drawing on the insights of Ernesto Laclau, the book argues that the DMK successfully constructed a people as Dravidian-Tamil, with Tamil serving as an empty signifier that encompasses the social whole. The Brahman-non-Brahman divide functions as an internal frontier, leading to the formation of political identities. The book elaborates on a conceptual scheme that encompasses the three rubrics of Ideation, Imagination, and Mobilization, providing a comprehensive framework for understanding the DMK's political strategy and its impact on regional politics.

In conclusion, Rule of the Commoner offers a fresh perspective on the DMK and its role in shaping Indian politics. By challenging the conventional narratives and providing a nuanced analysis of the party's ideology and political practices, the book contributes to our understanding of the complex dynamics of regionalism and identity politics in India.

Weight: 510g
Dimension: 236 x 160 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781009197175