1st Edition
Gramsci and South Asia Common Sense, Religion and Political Society
Gramsci’s theory of common sense is a metanarrative that can be used to explain both religion and political formations. This book examines Gramsci’s perspective and how his theories translate into South Asian society. It explores Gramsci’s historicism, which is sensitive to historical, regional and national differences, and its relevance in post-colonial societies.
The volume discusses themes like common sense, religious common sense, folk religion, dialogue and common sense concerning civil/political society through the lens of Gramsci’s historical perspectives. It also looks at Gramscian critique of political secularism, the ideology and politics of Hindutva, civil society in a non-Western context and modes of political society in India.
Lucid and topical, this book is a must-read for scholars and researchers of political studies, political philosophy, post-colonial studies, South Asian politics, cultural studies and political sociology.
List of contributors. Preface. Part I: Common Sense 1. Historicising Gramsci's Theory 2. Common Sense, the Subaltern and Hegemony Part II: Religion 3. A Critique of India's Secular Cosmopolitanism 4. Political Secularism, Religious Common Sense and the Ayodhya Dispute (With Prithvi Ram Mudiam) 5. Tagore, Folk religion, and Moments of Eternity 6. Dialoguing with Communal Polarization in Kandhamal (With Rajesh Bag) Part III: Political Society 7. Civil Society in Postcolonial Times 8. Modes of Political Society: Towards a Recovery of the Citizen-Subject 9. In Lieu of A Conclusion: Towards A Dialogue with the Subalterns. Index
Biography
Arun Kumar Patnaik is Professor of Political Science and former Dean of the School of Social Sciences, University of Hyderabad, India.
