Language and Politics in India: Themes in Politics

Part of the Themes in Politics series, this volume contextualizes the theme of language and politics within an interdisciplinary framework, and draws attention to the intimate and complex overlap between culture and power at various levels. Rather than presenting the language question as simply one of communication in a multilingual country like India, this book analyses overlapping hierarchies centred around the identities of language, region, culture, caste and religion. Expanding the frontiers of research and critical thinking related to the language question, the book suggests some innovative conceptual and methodological perspectives drawn from diverse theoretical and empirical contexts. Thematically organized into three broad sections, the reader examines the relationship between language, history, and nation; deals with the interface between language, region, and state; and situates identity politics within  the larger context of language politics. A comprehensive introduction provides an overview of key aspects of language politics in India. Timely and relevant, this volume will appeal to students and scholars of political science, history, cultural studies, post-colonial studies, sociology, linguistics and literature, and those interested in Indian politics.