Steur (2010) - Adivasis, Communists, and the Rise of Indigenism in Kerala Flashcards
Aim of article
Explore the forces that gave rise to indigenism
Communism in Kerala
- Popular and won elections in 1957 with the agenda of the left, as many post-colonised countries adopted
AGMSin Kerala
Grew in 1990s as an alternative to communism, focusing on “Adivasi” rights
This was a forum outside two political fronts given space to express legitimate social needs
Conclusion
Contemporary adivasi resistance is not simply a logical historical continuation of struggle against coloinialsim
BUT
sensitive to transformative vision reworking stereotypical notions of “adivasiness” propsed by AGMSin contrast to Communist party.
Why did the shift from “class” to “identity” occur?
1) Neo-liberal structural changes began affecting Kerala, and land rights became a primary concern
2) Indigenist activists’ political decisions - disillusionment of communist party, ideological polarisation in interpretation of Kerala history
“Adivasiness”
- Has a colonial / racist history, product of orientalism. Indigenist want to deconstruct this, communist reinforces these
The rise of indigenism in a global context
Impacted by two global processes:
1) Political-economic changes of neoliberalism (post ww2)
2) changes in international ideological landscape
Neoliberalism and resistance in India
Struggle for land as it became commodified / privatized.
Also led to flexible (informal) labor relations.
- Revert back to colonial practice of cheap labour = reserve army of local labour.
This led to a shift in “dominant mode of capital” and changes in form of resistance as older labor relations became inefficient (Rodney-argument)
Fight against being dispossessed of land
specifically tied to indigenous history as NO monetary compensation is enough!
External influence in Kerala by international competition
State-run cooperative farms to provide employment for adivasi laborers collapsed under intl. competition and decreased state subsidies
Clash with communism
Different interpretations of “political history” where communists saw “caste question” and “tribal question” to be understood through stages of devt” (modernisation narrative, evolutionary marxism), where the upper-castes had introduced more developed modes of production.
- perceived hegemonic and manipulative where upper-caste privileges where strengthened
