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IN our caste-ridden society subaltern castes have had an inhuman, subjugated existence for a very long time. Over a period of time they began to resist upper-caste hegemony and began the quest for political and cultural space. With awareness setting in, the Dalit identity is taking a concrete shape today. Among the factors contributing to this evolution are politics and the process of fashioning alternate history through the resurrection of memories and myths regarding Dalit heroes – both men and women – of yore covering the time span ranging from the two epics to the more recent 1857 War of Independence and even later. Badri Narayan has attempted to examine the relationship between cultural politics and the democratic participation of marginalised communities of UP. He also highlights "hidden issues related to identity construction, which underlie the obvious issues related to the fulfillment of basic needs and socio-economic development`85" and how they are used to mobilise the Dalits at the grass-roots level.
The life and times of the
Nawabs of Lucknow THE word nawab has regal connotations in our lexicon. Actually, it is merely a plural of the humble Arabic term ‘naib’ that means deputy. The Nawabs of Lucknow, in fact these were of Awadh or Oudh – were a colourful lot. Idiosyncratic and culturally evolved, they present kaleidoscopic images, brave, timid, adventurous, laidback, trusting, scheming, debauched, high-minded, gauche and sophisticated.
Lahore Darbar and Rani
Jindan Maharaja Ranjit Singh was a bulwark against the expanding empire of the East India Company. With his demise, the hidden fissures in his domain became manifest leading to intrigues, treason and bloodbaths. Among several tragic figures of the wilting Sikh empire, Rani Jindan’s was perhaps the most striking. Gill narrates the events right from the period of Ranjit Singh’s fatal ailment to the final annexation of his empire by the British.
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Women heroes and Dalit
assertion in North India
Inevitably, the BSP,
especially the Mayawati factor gets due attention. But it is the
community-wise examination of the evolution of Dalit consciousness in UP
which makes this well-researched and elucidated tome so valuable.
Perhaps the best-known name is
that of Wajid Ali Shah – the most misunderstood of the Nawabs. He was
a man of fortitude and intellect – something that the British
deliberately ignored while painting him as depraved. In this book you
will have glimpses of court intrigues, corruption and duplicity of the
British as well as the actors in the contemporary India.