Oriental Languages and Cultures

THEMES IN ADIVASI HISTORY IN COLONIAL AND POSTCOLONIAL INDIA The course discusses the socio-economic and political transitions experienced by adivasi (or tribal) communities in colonial and post-colonial India and highlights their diverse histories, culture and contemporary life experiences. Lectures will include the following topics: 1. Meanings, representations and categorisations – sources of adivasi history 2. Social and economic transition under colonial rule 3. Political change and its implication on adivasi history 4. Gender issues in adivasi history 5. Development, displacement, and migration 6. Culture and religion

Students are expected to have a general knowledge of 19th and 20th-century history, and to be conversant with basic terminology related to political and social institutions.

1. S. Dasgupta and D. Rycroft ed. The Politics of Belonging in India: Becoming Adivasi, London: Routledge, 2011 2. S. Das Gupta and R.S. Basu ed. Narratives from the Margins, Delhi: Primus, 2019 3. M. Radhakrishnan ed. First Citizens: Studies on Adivasis, Tribals and Indigenous Peoples in India, Delhi: OUP, 2016 4. M. Radhakrishnan, ‘Colonial Construction of a Criminal Tribe’, Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 35, Issue No. 28-29, 8 July 2000. 5. S. Sen, ‘Race, Aboriginality and the Adivasi: Some Implications for the Andaman Islanders’, in Frank Heidemann et al ed., Manifestations of History, Primus 2016. 6. S. Misra, ‘The Nature of Colonial Intervention in the Naga Hills, 1840-80’, Economic and Political Weekly, December 1998. 7. B. Bhangiya, Subjugated Nomads: The Lambadas under the Rule of the Nizams, Delhi: Orient Blackswan, 2011. 8. C. Bates and A. Shah, Savage Attacks: Tribal Insurgency in India, Delhi: Social Science Press, 2014. 9. B. Pati, Adivasis in Colonial India: Survival, Resistance and Negotiation, Delhi: Orient Blackswan, 2011. 10. N. Rao, ‘Kinship Matters: Women's Land Claims in the Santal Parganas, Jharkhand’, Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute 2005 11. J. Bara, ‘Seeds of mistrust: tribal and colonial perspectives on education in Chhotanagpur, 1834–c.1850’, History of Education, 34:6, 2005. 12. A.G. Nilsen, Adivasis and the State: Subalternity and Citizenship in India’s Bhil Heartland, Cambridge University Press, 2018.

Attendance strongly recommended, but not compulsory.

Attending students: Attending students: Students will have to make power-point presentations and write an essay of 1500 words on any topic of the course. Final oral examination with marks up to 30/30. Non-attending students: oral examination with marks up to 30/30, relating to the exam reading list. Marks are given based on: - ability to identify and contextualize historical processes and events; - knowing the subject matter; - ability to approach themes and issues both analytically and synthetically; - ability to use adequate language. Attaining the above abilities fully will result in excellent marks. Attaining the above qualities partially will result in medium to good marks. Failure in some of the abilities will result in only sufficient marks. Failure in most or all the above abilities will result in negative marks.

Frontal teaching, projection of visual documents; oral and written exercises. The course is based on classroom lessons including students’ presentations and discussions.