Peasant Resistance and Peasant Consciousness in Colonial India-Subalterns and Beyond

Two major themes have emerged in the writings of scholars writing under the 'subaltern banner: (a) peasant resistance and peasant consciousness in colonial India, and (b) the relationship between the peasantry and the national movement. This paper, focusing on the first theme, tries to examine some of the basic concepts and assumptions of this 'new' methodology as well as their implications. The author also tries to assess the extent of the success of this new approach in enlarging our knowledge of peasant resistance and consciousness.