{"product_id":"rule-of-the-commoner-dmk-and-formations-of-the-political-in-tamil-nadu-19491967-9781009197175","title":"Rule of the Commoner: DMK and Formations of the Political in Tamil Nadu, 1949-1967","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003eThe 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. \u003c\/blockquote\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat\u003c\/strong\u003e: Hardback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLength\u003c\/strong\u003e: 280 pages\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublication date\u003c\/strong\u003e: 10 November 2022\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher\u003c\/strong\u003e: Cambridge University Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDrawing 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWeight\u003c\/strong\u003e: 510g\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimension\u003c\/strong\u003e: 236 x 160 x 23 (mm)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN-13\u003c\/strong\u003e: 9781009197175\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rajan Kurai Krishnan,Ravindran Sriramachandran,VMS Subagunarajan","offers":[{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":44094895980794,"sku":"9781009197175","price":80.03,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0522\/4297\/2845\/products\/1668773163857_book.jpg?v=1668788970","url":"https:\/\/shulphink.com\/products\/rule-of-the-commoner-dmk-and-formations-of-the-political-in-tamil-nadu-19491967-9781009197175","provider":"Shulph Ink","version":"1.0","type":"link"}