Self-Consciousness of the Dalits as 'Subalterns': Reflections on Gramsci in South Asia.

Main author: Zene, Cosimo
Format: Journal Article           
Online access: Click here to view record


id eprints-11711
recordtype eprints
institution SOAS, University of London
collection SOAS Research Online
language English
language_search English
description In this article I reflect on Gramsci’s category of the ‘‘subaltern,’’ taking into consideration recent contributions to this topic, particularly those offered by Joseph Buttigieg, Giorgio Baratta, and Marcus Green. The latter, besides presenting an eloquent critique of Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak’s article ‘‘Can the Subaltern Speak?’’ allows me to return to Gramscian sources so as to carry out a radicalization of Gramsci’s positions with reference to the experience of ‘‘Untouchables’’/Dalits in South Asia. There is little doubt that inquiry into the ‘‘subaltern question’’ in India today cannot ignore the ‘‘Dalit question.’’ The case study referring to the Rishi-Dalits of Bangladesh accentuates still further the precarious position of these groups as subalterns, but also their aspiration to overcome subalternity.
format Journal Article
author Zene, Cosimo
author_facet Zene, Cosimo
authorStr Zene, Cosimo
author_letter Zene, Cosimo
title Self-Consciousness of the Dalits as 'Subalterns': Reflections on Gramsci in South Asia.
publisher Taylor and Francis
publishDate 2011
url https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/11711/