Subaltern Studies is a post-colonial theory and historiographical approach born in India, and it is chiefly associated with Ranajit Guha and his colleagues. It involves re-writing history to invoke the experiences and agency of marginalized groups rather than the elite. Other notable individuals in Subaltern Studies are Sumit Sarkar and Ranajit Guha, stressing the importance of developing ‘history from below’.
Elaboration:
- Ranajit Guha:
Guha is generally recognized as the founding father of subaltern studies and is well-known for his studies of peasant uprisings in India. Guha’s publications attempted to include the role of subaltern groups in relation to Indian nationalism, the work of revolutionary movements, and societal change. Guha and his cohorts’ researched the history of subaltern groups in contrast to the historical records of elitist historians. - Sumit Sarkar:
Sarkar is a prominent figure in subaltern studies, noted for his studies of the Indian National Movement and how it was supported by subaltern groups. Sarkar and other scholars of subaltern studies published criticisms of elitist biases embodied in newer historical perspectives. - Subaltern Studies:
The term “subaltern” refers to people who occupy subcommensurate positions in power structures, and are outside of dominant narratives. Subaltern Studies as historiographical practices that privileged the history of marginalized groups such as peasants, tribal peoples and other subordinate or non-elite groups. - Key Concepts:
Subaltern Studies addressed to encourage agency, the promotion of oral history and popular culture, and that no studies of colonialism (discourse) worked as an objective tool of legitimate knowledge extraction for the post-colonial context of social and political processes.
Subaltern Studies has had a significant impact on the field of history and has influenced research beyond South Asia, sparking similar movements in other parts of the world.
