• Open Daily: 10am - 10pm
    Alley-side Pickup: 10am - 7pm

    3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
    612-822-4611

Open Daily: 10am - 10pm | Alley-side Pickup: 10am - 7pm
3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
612-822-4611
Community Warriors: State, Peasants and Caste Armies in Bihar

Community Warriors: State, Peasants and Caste Armies in Bihar

Paperback

Series: Anthem Press India

General Political ScienceIndian & South Asian History

Publisher Price: $40.00

ISBN10: 1843317095
ISBN13: 9781843317098
Publisher: Anthem Press
Published: Feb 15 2009
Pages: 240
Weight: 0.76
Height: 0.51 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
This book dissects the politicization of caste massacres and provides a provocative portrayal of the private caste armies operant in so-called 'barbaric-Bihar'. Mediating between predatory politicians and radical Maoists, Kumar argues that these caste armies act as both a surrogate arm of the state and a violent defender of their community's self-perceived purity. His focus on vicious agrarian conflicts and the increasing powerlessness to deal with these conflicts challenges transcendental notions of the state's autonomy and the legitimacy. Community Warriors is anchored in historically and politically constructed notions of identity, power and ethnic allegiance. The book's lucid narrative style facilitates a seamless passage through the sociocultural history of post-independence Bihar and unravels the disturbing aspects of the march of democracy in this much feared and also promising 'heart of India'. Kumar addresses the issues of the process of democratization, ethnic conflict, state power, social movements, Dalit politics and peasant unrest, providing a key to understanding contemporary India.

Also in

General Political Science