
Against the Few
Struggles of India's Rural Poor
Arun Sinha(Author)
Zed Books Ltd (Publisher)
Published on 1. August 1991
Book
Hardback
227 pages
978-0-86232-718-7 (ISBN)
Description
The struggles of the rural poor against those that exploit and dominate them too often goes unreported. This book, authored by the man who first exposed the deliberate blinding of villagers on trial in Bihar, India, is an unforgettably moving account from the heart of a veritable war being waged in India's rural areas.
After introducing the village of Bihar - its history, caste system, class structure and tribal communities - Arun Sinha describes the very different struggles taking place there. He demonstrates the complexity of the economic interests which divide Indian villagers; their lack of a sense of solidarity as peasants; the difficulties they encounter in building effective popular organisations; and their persistent manipulation by the authorities.
After introducing the village of Bihar - its history, caste system, class structure and tribal communities - Arun Sinha describes the very different struggles taking place there. He demonstrates the complexity of the economic interests which divide Indian villagers; their lack of a sense of solidarity as peasants; the difficulties they encounter in building effective popular organisations; and their persistent manipulation by the authorities.
Reviews / Votes
'In Bihar, the Indian state is at war with the poor. Arun Sinha's graphic study, based on his observations as one of India's most respected journalists, brings out the spreading violence in rural India.'Neville Maxwell, journalist and author of India's China War
'Arun Sinha is one of India's finest journalists. He leaves the reader with a series of haunting images, and a feeling of having actually experienced something of the reality of the villages of Bihar.'
Terry Byres, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 135 mm
ISBN-13
978-0-86232-718-7 (9780862327187)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Arun Sinha was formerly the news service chief for The Times of India in Patna. He completed this book while holding a Reuters Foundation fellowship at Oxford University.
Content
Foreword - Terry Byres
An Introduction to Bihar
Part I: Myth and Reality
1. A Thriving Trade
2. The Decline of Caste Society
Part II: Under the Raj
3. The Rising of the Chiefs
4. The Wrecking of the Countryside
5. Farewell to Bows and Arrows
6. On the Move
Part III: Roads to Freedom
7. The Jesus Path
8. The Abbey in Bodh Gaya
9. The Battle of the Sharecroppers
10. How the Thakurs Were Contained
11. A More Radical Line
12. The Santhals' Struggle
13. Life After Death for the Hill People
Some Conclusions
Notes
An Introduction to Bihar
Part I: Myth and Reality
1. A Thriving Trade
2. The Decline of Caste Society
Part II: Under the Raj
3. The Rising of the Chiefs
4. The Wrecking of the Countryside
5. Farewell to Bows and Arrows
6. On the Move
Part III: Roads to Freedom
7. The Jesus Path
8. The Abbey in Bodh Gaya
9. The Battle of the Sharecroppers
10. How the Thakurs Were Contained
11. A More Radical Line
12. The Santhals' Struggle
13. Life After Death for the Hill People
Some Conclusions
Notes