Shakespeare and Indian Nationalism: The Bard and the Raj

Shakespeare and Indian Nationalism explores how 19th-century Indian intelligentsia from Bengal interpreted and engaged with Shakespeare, navigating the cultural politics of British imperialism. It focuses on six early nationalist writers and their relationship with Shakespeare, combining postcolonial studies and Shakespeare studies to reconcile admiration for an English cultural icon with the rise of nationalism.

Format: Hardback
Length: 234 pages
Publication date: 29 September 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Shakespeare and Indian Nationalism is a comprehensive exploration of the complex and multifaceted relationship between Shakespeare and the 19th-century Indian intelligentsia from Bengal. It delves into their reception of Shakespeare and their ambivalent approach to the Indian Renaissance and its subsequent nationalist project. This volume serves as a valuable contribution to the field of cultural politics, shedding light on the cultural dynamics of British imperialism.

The book focuses on six early nationalist writers who were deeply influenced by Shakespeare: Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar (1820–1891), Hemchandra Bandopadhay (1838–1903), Girishchandra Ghosh (1844–1912), Purnachandra Basu (1844–unknown), Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar (1820–1891), Bankimchandra Chattopadhaya (1838–1894), and Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941). By drawing on the theories of Antonio Gramsci and a range of prominent scholars in cultural politics, nationalism, and Indian history, the book adopts an interdisciplinary approach that combines postcolonial studies and Shakespeare studies.

The primary objective of Shakespeare and Indian Nationalism is to reconcile the simultaneous existence of an unwavering admiration for an English cultural icon in India alongside the rise of nationalism and the fierce resistance to British rule. The book explores the ways in which Shakespeare's plays were appropriated, interpreted, and reimagined by these nationalist writers to serve their political and cultural agendas. It examines how Shakespeare's themes, characters, and narratives resonated with the experiences and struggles of the Indian people, providing them with a powerful tool for articulating their national identity and resistance.

Through its detailed analysis, Shakespeare and Indian Nationalism offers a fresh perspective on Shakespeare's position in academic, political, and popular nationalist discourses in postcolonial India. It demonstrates how Shakespeare's works have been used to justify and promote nationalism, as well as to critique and challenge it. The book explores how Shakespeare's plays have been appropriated to promote the idea of a shared cultural heritage, to celebrate Indian traditions and values, and to assert the superiority of Indian culture over British imperialism.

At the same time, Shakespeare and Indian Nationalism also acknowledges the complexities and contradictions within the nationalist project. It recognizes the ways in which Shakespeare's plays were used to perpetuate colonial stereotypes and to reinforce the power and authority of the British Empire. The book explores how Shakespeare's characters, such as Othello and Macbeth, were appropriated to represent the fears and insecurities of the Indian people, who were subjected to British rule.

In conclusion, Shakespeare and Indian Nationalism is a groundbreaking work that offers a rich and nuanced understanding of the complex relationship between Shakespeare and the 19th-century Indian intelligentsia from Bengal. It provides a valuable contribution to the fields of cultural politics, postcolonial studies, and Shakespeare studies. Through its interdisciplinary approach, the book sheds light on the cultural politics of British imperialism, explores the appropriation of Shakespeare's plays by nationalist writers, and re-examines Shakespeare's position in academic, political, and popular nationalist discourses in postcolonial India. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in the intersection of culture, politics, and literature, and in the ways in which Shakespeare continues to shape and inspire contemporary debates about national identity and belonging.

Weight: 603g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032379227