Notions of Nationhood in Bengal: Perspectives on Samaj, C. 1867-1905This book reopens the debate on colonial nationalisms, going beyond derivative , borrowed , political and modernist paradigms. It introduces the conceptual category of samaj to demonstrate how indigenous socio-cultural origins in Bengal interacted with late-colonial discourses to produce the notion of a nation. Samaj (a historical society and an idea-in-practice) was a site for reconfiguring antecedents and negotiating fragmentation. Drawing on indigenous sources, this study shows how caste, class, ethnicity, region and community were refracted to conceptualise wider unities. The mapping of cultural continuities through change facilitates a more nuanced investigation of the ontology of nationhood, seeing it as related to, but more than political nationalism. It outlines a fresh paradigm for recalibrating postcolonial identities, offering interpretive strategies to mediate fragmentation. |
Contents
Acknowledgments | ix |
Introduction | 54 |
Chapter One Nationalist Ideologues Ideas and their Dissemination | 98 |
Chapter Two Recreating a Jati | 130 |
ChapterThree Samaj and Perspectives on Unity | 139 |
Lower Orders in Bengal | 173 |
Chapter Five Contiguous Ethnicities | 221 |
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Notions of Nationhood in Bengal: Perspectives on Samaj, c. 1867-1905 Swarupa Gupta Limited preview - 2009 |
Notions of Nationhood in Bengal: Perspectives on Samaj, C. 1867-1905 Swarupa Gupta No preview available - 2009 |
Common terms and phrases
according accounts ancient applied areas Aryan Assam associated Banglar Basu belonging Bengal Brahmans Calcutta caste Chandra changes Chapter Chattopadhyay civilisation codes colonial complex concept conduct connections considered contexts continuity cultural Delhi dharma discourse distinct division earlier elements especially ethnic explained formed fragmentations groups helped Hindu Ibid idea identity ideological imagination implied included India indigenous individuals influenced intellectual interaction intersected Itihas jati jatiya Kayastha king language late nineteenth century later linked literati London lower orders mean Mela mentioned Muslim Nagendranath nation nationhood neighbouring non-Aryan origins Oxford University Press past period political practices present Rabindranath race Rajshahi referred reflected regarded regional religion religious rule samaj samajik Sanskrit seen sense significant situated social society specific Studies sub-regional Tagore texts tion tracts tradition tribes unity village Volume western wider writing