Subaltern Studies : a New Trend in Writing History

November - 2014 Odisha Review

Subaltern Studies : A New Trend in Writing History

Abhijit Sahoo

INTRODUCTION: 3) A study of available sources for the Subaltern “History is the recorded struggle of people for History Writing. ever increasing freedom and for newer higher 4) The survey of early contribution of Subaltern realisation of the human process. The common History writing in India. people possess the capacity to make history. In 5) Criticism and Response of the subaltern fact the historic initiative of the masses has time studies. and again produced social cataclysms that have changed the world.” The subaltern approach Meaning of subaltern studies:- centers on and around the people, as people ‘Subaltern’, meaning ‘of inferior rank’, is constitute the central theme of history. The a term adopted by Antonio Gramsi(1891-1937), subaltern studies of history claims to be an an Italian Marxist and Communist Party Leader, improvement on the elitist mode (both Marxist refers to those groups in society who are subject and Non-Marxist type) of exploring and explaining to the hegemony of the ruling classes. A subaltern history. This mode of explaining history also known is someone with a low ranking in a social, political, as “history from below” aims at constructing the or other hierarchy. It can also mean someone who paradigm of subaltern consciousness manifesting has been marginalised or oppressed. From the in different forms, at different places, and at Latin roots sub- “below”, and alternus “all different times. ‘Subaltern studies’ is a new trend others”, subaltern is used to describe someone of writing history, like other trends i.e. of a low rank (as in the military) or class (as in a Imperialism, Primitivism, Nationalism, Marxism, caste system). Subalterns occupy entry-level jobs Neo-Marxism, Feminism, Ambedkarism etc. The or occupy a lower rung of the “corporate ladder.” need of rewriting and revaluation on the basis of But the term is also used to describe someone narration of history is being expressed. who has no political or economic power, such as Objectives:- a poor person living under a dictatorship. Different kinds of synonyms are used for the word 1) Explain the meaning and nature of the ‘Subaltern’, like: common people, lower-class, Subaltern History. underprivileged, exploited, inferiors, minors, weak 2) A study of rise and growth of the Subaltern etc. British Historian, E.P. Thomson wrote an History writing. article in ‘The Times Magazine’. While giving his

81 Odisha Review November - 2014 opinion he used the words ‘History from Down history writing. In the early 1980s, there emerged Below’ Italian Marxist thinker Antonio Gramshi in India a ‘school’ of history that goes by the name has used the word ‘subaltern’ for minor, poor, of ‘Subaltern Studies’; this ‘school’ has now downtrodden people. Subaltern means gained a world-wide reputation, and ‘Subaltern overlooked, neglected, disregarded, and treated Studies’ is beginning to make its influence felt in with unconcern and indifference. Latin American Studies, African Studies, ‘cultural Nature of the Subaltern Studies:- studies’, and other arenas. Where previously the history of modern India, and particularly of the In the thousands years of history-writing nationalist movement, was etched as a history of it is clearly seen that there existed two kinds of Indian ‘elites’, now this history is being construed people: Superiors and Inferiors in the society. The primarily as a history of ‘subaltern groups’. superiors have been given more importance. ‘Subaltern studies’ is a foreign trend of thoughts Therefore, it is expected in Subaltern studies to and the philosophical foundation of this trend is write the history again, making it free. The found in the writing of the Italian Marxist thinker inclusion of lower people or common men’s Antonio Gramchi. His thoughts were upheld by history has been agreed. This trend of writing many thinkers Frants Cannan, Jivche Zanax, consists of the agony of exploited workers, Eric, Hobbs Bon George Rud, Shiro Brizand labourers, oppressed caste, and women’s income can be specially mentioned. Antonio Gramchi was beyond the world of thoughts. The consciousness the founder of Marxist Party in Italian tradition and autonomy of lower class regarding and famous as a Marxist thinker. He was the consciousness is the foundation of Subaltern organiser and leader of peasant revolt in Italy after studies. “In the work of subaltern studies it is the First World War. He wrote many articles after necessary to reach up to not only the ideological the rise of Mussolini to attack the dictatorship part but also the livelihood of common people government and asserted the need to organise for i.e. poor farmers, shepherds, workers, labourers, changing Mussolini’s government. As a result he oppressed caste women. They are also human was arrested in 1926. During his stay in prison he beings, they also think, take decisions, decide the discussed with the prisoners on the political way to live and grow in the society. The subaltern condition and collected information maintaining studies, therefore, defy those historians who regard people’s action as external to their the daily record. He died in the prison itself. Later consciousness. So, the chief concern of the on his writing was published under the titles subaltern studies venture is thus to appreciate the “Selections from Political Writings” and people’s consciousness and their action. A proper “Selections from Prison Notebooks.” Gramchi analysis of this consciousness and its due tried to give the meaning of Marxist theory recognition by the historians would rightly present regarding the changed condition of world. “The and project the subalterns as the maker of the process of production is the foundation of social history they live out. development and change, economical transactions determine the direction of social development, Rise and growth of the Subaltern thoughts and culture.”Gramchi makes argument History Writing:- regarding this theory of Mary and says, “Though The subaltern studies were proclaimed by financial transaction is the foundation of social life, its adherents as a new school in the field of Indian the cultural building on it is of the same

82 November - 2014 Odisha Review importance. Social change gives speed and history is similar to the trend of writing in England, direction to culture”. Again Gramchi says, ‘Be an which became famous as ‘History from Below’. Integral Historian and join the ranks of organic The ‘Centre of South Asian Cultural Studies’ intellectuals in recognising every trace of was established with the assumption that without independent initiative on the part of the Subaltern knowing the work of downtrodden people, it is group, rather than reproducing, the minds and not possible to obtain the true sight of the analysing the actions of the dominant group’. contemporary history. Dr.Ranjeet Guha played a Through the thoughts of Gramchi, the trend of vital role in the establishment of this institute. He Subaltern studies became conventional. discussed about this view point of history with Writing of the Subaltern studies and some of the Indian scholars. The historians, who sources:- experienced the need to study the new point of view regarding the revolt movement during the The sources of subaltern studies, the British rule in India, came together and social group on which the history has to be written, deliberately started new experiments in the field are not available in large quantity because these of history. In 1982, a collection of articles edited groups at the low level of society is not capable by Dr. Guha “Subaltern studies” was published. of expressing their thoughts and opinions like the This first issue of Subaltern studies can be called superiors or leading people. Therefore the a concrete invention of the new trend of thoughts. literature expressing their revelation is not made Guha tried to write history of subaltern from the we don’t have documents and sources of written subaltern perspective. Then and then alone would correspondence. Therefore, Governmental it be possible to notice the kind of role that the documents, Govt. Reports, Reports of Revenue majority of the population, the silent majority if Department, Census Report, Documents of Police you wish, played in directing the course of history. Department, Judicial Documents, Folktales, Inevitably, the issue is who was dominating whom Folksongs, Folk-recollection, Interviews etc. are and who revolted against the domination and in used to write subaltern studies. The meditation what kind of manner came to be central and thinking about all the above sources as well importance in these studies. as the help of the different branches of knowledge like Economics, Sociology, Census, The philosophical base (foundation) of Anthropology, Archaeology, Psychology, Dr. Guha’s ‘Subaltern studies’ is found in the Linguistics etc. are necessary only then can be writing of Gramchi. Later on, eight issues of created subaltern history. ‘Subaltern studies’ were published. Through these issues he gave an outline of common Subaltern Studies and India:- people’s history. He also wrote “Elementary The founder of the subaltern studies is Aspects of Peasant Emergency in Colonial Ranjit Guha(an Indian) and the trend of India” In this book he wrote about the main parts ‘Subaltern studies’ prevailed in India, in the last of peasant’s revolt “A farmer is the creator of his twenty years of the 20th century. This new trend own history”, says Dr. Guha. Dr.Shahid Amin, a gave a way to new challenges by crossing the close associate of Dr. Guha, has important traditional writing of history. It provided a new contribution in the writing of ‘Subaltern studies’. direction, new amplitude and helped to begin a He was the founder; editor and worked as teacher new chapter. Indian point of view of Subaltern in history in Delhi University. He has analysed the

83 Odisha Review November - 2014 effect of Mahatma Gandhi on the minds of the regional on national leadership and which had a farmers who participated in non-cooperation totally different composition from Princes and movement. He has tried to know the intention of Zamindars.” Dr. Sumit Sarkar has expressed different elements of society related to “Chauri- meditative thoughts about Subaltern studies. He Chaura” incident. He wrote an article ‘Making says ‘Subaltern studies with its critique of all the Nation Habitable’ and a book, verieties of eliticism, whether colonist, nationalist ‘Remembering the Mussalmans.” He has or even Marxist has its focus on lower class expressed his thoughts about the dangers and bad indicatives, its pioneering efforts do represent a effects on history writing from the point of view major breakthrough in our history writing’. He of any religious group. does not neglect the leadership of organic group of middle class as insignificant. Apart from this, in In the trend of ‘Subaltern studies’ his article ‘Decline of the Subaltern in Subaltern Dr. Sumit Sarkar also has contributed a lot. He is studies’ he says that while giving emphasis on the known as a brilliant historian, he employs the term psychology and work of deprived group in subalterns for tribal and low-caste agricultural society, their social history is neglected. labourers and share croppers, landholding peasants, generally of intermediate –caste status CRITICISM AND RESPONSE OF THE in Bengal and labour in plantations mines and SUBALTERN STUDIES:- industries. He studied Marxism and his important There has been wide-ranging criticism of writings consist of the history of common people the Subaltern Studies from many quarters. Right in national movement, history of neglected group, from the beginning the project has been critiqued leadership of Mahatma Gandhi in national by the Marxist, Nationalist and Cambridge movement and the dominant nature of foreign School historians, besides those who were not colonial government. In 1977 he discussed with affiliated to any position. Almost all positions it Dr. Ranjeet Guha and turned towards this new took, ranging from a search for autonomous trend. He wrote book like : Swadeshi Movement subaltern domain to the later shift to discourse in Bengal (1973), Popular Movements and analysis, came under scrutiny and criticism. Some Middle Class Leadership in the late Colonial of the earlier critiques were published in the Social India, Prespectives and problems of History Scientist. In one of them, Javeed Alam criticised from Below (1985), Writing Social History, Subaltern Studies for its insistence on an Modern India 1885-1947 and 1983-1985. He autonomous domain of the subaltern. According wrote articles as, Limits of Nationalism, Decline to Alam, the autonomy of the subaltern politics is of the Subaltern in Subaltern studies, Beyond predicated on perpetuity of rebellious action, on Nationalist frame. Dr. Sumit Sarkar is closer to a consistent tendency towards resistance and a the concept of “History from Below’ by Edward propensity to rebellion on the part of the peasant Thomson. In the introduction to his book, ‘Popular masses. Whether this autonomous action is Movements and Middle Class Leadership’ he says positive or negative in its consequences is of not - “History from Below being by concentrating on much concern to the Subalternists: ‘the historical local and regional developments, encompassing direction of militancy is of secondary various groups in the word popular-tribal, consideration. What is primary is the spontaneity Peasant, artisan, labour protests and in the middle and an internally located self-generating class a class which started asserting some kind of momentum. Extending the implications of the

84 November - 2014 Odisha Review inherent logic of such a theoretical construction, truth entrenched within their liberal and leftist it is a matter of indifference if it leads to communal stockades. He peremptorily dismissed the rioting or united anti-feudal actions that overcome criticism by those scholars who have lived too the initial limitations. long with well-rehearsed ideas and Sumit Sarkar, who was earlier associated methodologies. The subalternists took some time before reacting to the critiques. Dipesh with the project, later on criticised it for moving Chakrabarty's reply was more detailed and towards post colonialism. Over the years, there asserted that : The central aim of the Subaltern began a shift in the approach of subaltern studies. Studies project is to understand the consciousness The influence of the post modernist and that informed and still informs political actions postcolonist ideologies became more marked. In taken by the subaltern classes on their own, his two essays, ‘The Decline of the Subaltern independently of any elite initiative.‘ It was in Subaltern Studies‘ and Orientalism because, as shown by subaltern historians, in the Revisited‘, he argues that this shift may have been course of nationalist struggles involving popular occasioned due to various reasons, but, mobilization the masses often put their own intellectually, there is an attempt to have the best interpretations on the aims of these movements of both worlds : critiquing others for essentialism, and proceeded to act them out. teleology and related sins, while claiming a special immunity from doing the same oneself.‘ Moreover, Conclusion:- such works in Indian history have not produced The subaltern studies asserted itself as any spectacular results. Even earlier, according a radically new form of history-writing in the to Sarkar, there was a tendency towards context of Indian history. The History written till essentialising the categories of subaltern and now is one-sided, partial and not showing true autonomy, in the sense of assigning to them more picture of low level group in society. A group of or less absolute, fixed, decontextualised meanings people is deprived of proper position. A great and qualities. Sarkar argues that there are many man or intellectual group cannot create history. problems with the histories produced by the True history is not of superior group but it is subaltern writers and these arise due to their shaped from the group of common people. restrictive analytical frameworks, as Subaltern Subaltern studies became an original site for a Studies swing from a rather simple emphasis on new kind of history from below, a people’s history subaltern autonomy to an even more simplistic free of national constraints, a post-nationalist thesis of western colonial cultural domination‘. reimaging of Indian nation, on the other side, at Such criticism of the Subaltern Studies is still the margins, outside nationalism. This work brings continuing and the Subaltern historians have together all the historians through the new trend responded to it with their own justification of the of writing ‘Subaltern studies’, so that the recipients project and counter-attacks on critics. of success should get justice and in the same way true history will be written. The subalternists took some time before reacting to the critiques. Ranjit Guha railed against References : the criticism by those whom he called the vendors 1) Dr. Satish K.Bajaj,(1988), “Recent Trends in of readymade answers and academic old rods Historiography”, Anmol Publication, New Delhi, who supposedly posed as the custodians of official pp-129-132.

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2) Dr. O.V.Ligade,(2009) “Subaltern Studies : Trend 9) Dr. Vyas Prakashchandra, Ibid, PP. 289. in History writing”, International Research 10) Dr. Kothekar Shanta, Ibid, PP. 240 Journal, vol-1, pp.62-63. 11) David Ludden (ed.), Reading Subaltern Studies : 3) Dr. Binod Bihari Satpathy,(2014) “ Subaltern Critical History, Contested Meaning, and the Approach to Indian History” Indian Globalisation of South Asia (Delhi, Permanent Historiography, Paper-viii, DDCE, PP.191-195. Black,(2001). 4) Dr. Parve Ramesh (Editor) (2010), “Trends in 12) Dipesh Chakrabarty, “Subaltern Studies and History”, Souvenir of National Conference, Postcolonial Historiography‘, Nepantla : Views Dayanand Arts College, Latur, PP. 8. from South, 1:1, 2000. 5) Dr. Vyas Prakashchandra (1999), “Itihas Lekhan 13) Dr. Kothekar Shanta, Ibid, PP. 239 . Shastra”, Abhijeet Publication, Latur, PP. 289 14) Vinay Lal,” Walking with the Subalterns, Riding 6) Gramsci, Antonio, “Escritos Políticos”, 4 vols, with the Academy” : ‘The Curious Ascendancy Lisboa, Seara Nova, 1976-1978 and “Selection of Indian History‘, Studies in History, 17, 1 (2001). from the Prison Note Books”. Trans. By Quintin Hoare and Geoffrey Nowell Smith(London: 15) Dr. Kothekar Shanta, Ibid, PP. 247, 248. Lawrence and Wishart, 1971), pp.52-56. 7) Ranjit Guha(ed), “Subaltern Studies” ,Vol-1, (Delhi: Oxford University Press, rpt. In paper back 1944), pp-1-8. 8) Sumit Srakar, “Popular Movements and Middle Class Leadership in Late Colonial India: Perspective & Problems of a History From Abhijit Sahoo, Lecturer in History, KISS, KIIT Below”, New Delhi, 1983-1985. University, Bhubaneswar-24.