The Subaltern Studies Group (SSG) or Subaltern Studies Collective are a group of scholars in India, interested in the postcolonial and post-imperial societies of India in particular and the developing world in general. The term Subaltern Studies is sometimes also applied more broadly to others who share many of their views. Their approach is one of history from below, focused more on what happens among the masses at the base levels of society than among the elite.

The term "subaltern" in this context is an implied reference to an essay by Italian Marxist Antonio Gramsci (1881–1937). Literally, it refers to any person or group of inferior rank and station, whether because of race, class, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or religion.

The SSG arose in the 1980s, to attempt to formulate a new narrative of the history of India. Although they are, in a sense, on the left, they are very critical of the traditional Marxist narrative of Indian history, in whigh semi-feudal India was colonized by the British, became politicized, and earned its independence. In particular, they are critical of the focus of this narrative on the political consciousness of elites, who in turn inspire the masses to resistance and rebellion against the British.

Instead, they focus on non-elites — subalterns — as agents of political and social change. They have had a particular interest in the discourses and rhetoric of emerging political and social movements, as against only highly visible actions like demonstrations and uprisings.

People associated with Subaltern Studies

The two most prominent names associated with Subaltern Studies are Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak and Partha Chatterjee . Other scholars associated with Subaltern Studies include:

• Gayan Prakash
• Ranajit Guha
• Shahid Amin
• David Arnold
• David Hardiman
• Gyanendra Pandey
• Dipesh Chakrabarty

External links

• Tim Spurgin's notes on Subaltern Studies and other topics in postcolonialism

Further Reading

• Young, Robert, White Mythologies. Routledge, 1990, reissued 2004. Several associated ISBNs, including ISBN 0415311810, ISBN 0415311802.