The term “subaltern” refers to individuals or groups who occupy subordinate or marginalized positions within society, often lacking political, social, or economic power.
The concept originated in postcolonial studies, particularly within the context of South Asian history, and was popularized by the Subaltern Studies Group, a collective of scholars who sought to challenge dominant narratives of Indian history and foreground the perspectives of marginalized communities. Here’s a discussion of the term “subaltern” and the two phases of Subaltern Studies in India:
Understanding “Subaltern”:
- Marginalized Groups: Subalterns are those who exist on the margins of society, including peasants, tribal communities, women, lower castes, and religious minorities. They are often excluded from positions of power and privilege, subjected to exploitation, discrimination, and violence.
- Colonial and Postcolonial Context: The concept of the subaltern emerged in response to the colonial experience, where indigenous peoples were systematically oppressed, exploited, and silenced by colonial authorities. Subaltern voices were marginalized within colonial archives and historical narratives, leading to their exclusion from mainstream accounts of history.
- Agency and Resistance: Despite their marginalization, subalterns are not passive victims of oppression. They exercise agency and resistance through various forms of everyday resistance, cultural practices, and collective mobilization. Subaltern studies seek to uncover and amplify these forms of agency, challenging the notion of subalterns as voiceless and powerless.
Phases of Subaltern Studies in India:
First Phase:
- Emergence: The first phase of Subaltern Studies emerged in the 1980s, led by scholars such as Ranajit Guha, Dipesh Chakrabarty, and Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak. They critiqued mainstream nationalist historiography for its elitism and neglect of subaltern perspectives.
- Gramscian Influence: Influenced by the ideas of Antonio Gramsci, Subaltern Studies scholars focused on the concept of hegemony and the ways in which dominant groups maintain power through cultural and ideological control. They explored how subaltern groups resisted hegemonic structures and articulated their own forms of consciousness.
- Reinterpretation of History: Subaltern Studies scholars reinterpreted Indian history from the perspective of the marginalized, focusing on peasant rebellions, tribal uprisings, religious movements, and other forms of popular resistance. They challenged colonial and nationalist narratives, highlighting the agency of subalterns in shaping historical events.
Second Phase:
- Expanding Perspectives: The second phase of Subaltern Studies, which began in the 1990s, saw an expansion of its theoretical and geographical scope. Scholars extended the concept of the subaltern beyond rural contexts to include urban, gender, and postcolonial perspectives.
- Cultural and Postcolonial Turns: Subaltern Studies scholars engaged with postcolonial theory, cultural studies, and post-structuralism, broadening their analytical frameworks and methodologies. They explored the intersections of power, identity, and representation in colonial and postcolonial contexts.
- Critiques and Debates: The second phase of Subaltern Studies was marked by internal debates and critiques. Scholars questioned the limitations of the subaltern category, its applicability to diverse contexts, and its potential for essentialism and homogenization. They also debated the relationship between subaltern studies and other intellectual currents, such as feminism, Marxism, and postcolonialism.
In summary, the concept of the subaltern refers to marginalized groups who are excluded from positions of power and privilege within society. Subaltern studies in India, characterized by two distinct phases, have sought to challenge dominant historical narratives, amplify subaltern voices, and reconfigure understandings of power, resistance, and agency in colonial and postcolonial contexts.