Insights and Interventions: Essays in Honour of Uma ChakravartiKumkum Roy Uma Chakravarti, feminist historian, teacher, and democratic rights' activist, has inspired generations of teachers, students and friends. This volume, including contributions from a handful of those who share her concerns, is a tribute to her energy, commitment and perseverance in pursuing her ideas and dreams. Is it possible to extend interventions from the classroom to the community? How do we strive towards a more integrated vision and praxis without falling into the trap of uniformity? Delving into texts ranging from the Rigveda to contemporary Dalit literature, and using diverse analytical strategies to understand present-day situations and experiences, the contributors offer insights, share concerns, and uncertainties through their essays and narratives. The themes addressed include issues of caste, nationalism, gendered identities, communalization, sexualities, socio-political relationships in all their complexities and the modes of transmission of ancient texts. The contributors include scholars/teachers who, like Uma, attempt to bridge the worlds of academics and activism, as well as young researchers who share her enthusiasm for ancient Indian history. |
Contents
PART I | 15 |
Conversations on Caste | 75 |
Crime and Atonement | 89 |
Nobody Must Know | 101 |
on the Premier Performances of | 117 |
representations | 169 |
Notes on Contributors | 183 |
Common terms and phrases
academic Agganna Sutta Ambedkar anathapindika argued Arjun Ashvaghosha Ashvamedha audience Balakanda bhikkhus born brahmans Brockington Buddha Buddhist centres Chakravarti claim context cosmologies courses critical critique culture curricula Dalit debate decade Delhi dharma Dharmashastra disciplines Dravidian Dravidian nationalism eklavya emerged engagement essay Everyday Histories feminist friends friendships gender gods groups guidelines Hansraj hierarchies higher education hymn Ibid India institutional Jatakas Jwala kavya Kings and Brahmanas kshatriya Kusha Kusha and Lava Lakshmana Lava's lives maharaj ji mother narrative nationalist Olivelle organizations past performance political Purusha Sukta questions raju Rama rama’s Ramayana rishis ritual sacrifice sages sangha Sanskrit sarga Saroj sexual shudra sing Sita social story studies in India suggest Tamil teaching programmes tradition twins ugC-sponsored uma’s undergraduate upper caste Uttarakanda vaishya Valmiki vanaras vanna varna Vasishtha Veda Vedic verse vishnu wife woman women's movement women's studies WsCs yajna