Narrative of the Village: Centre of the Periphery

Book Details

• Author: Jasbir Jain

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Language: English

• Edition: Abridged edition

• ISBN: 8131600084

• Pages: 312

• Cover: Hardcover

• Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.5 x 1.0 inches

About the Book

Narrative of the Village: Centre of the Periphery seeks to deconstruct the traditional polarities of centre and margin, illustrating how these concepts are interconnected across regions and languages. The book crosses disciplinary boundaries, integrating sociological, political, economic, and narratological perspectives to explore the complexities of rural life in India.

The essays in this volume span nearly a hundred years of Indian history, tracing the country’s evolution from the early decades, through the dislocations of partition, and into the present. The text aims to recapture the past, reframe contemporary priorities, recover lost myths, and reveal the process of nation-building.

A recurring theme in Indian literature and film has been the depiction of village life. Writers and filmmakers across various languages, such as Premchand, Sarat Chandra, Bibhutibhushan Bannerjee, and many others, have chronicled the kaleidoscopic nature of rural India. The essays in this volume present a fresh examination of the subcontinental village, shedding light on its sociological intricacies and exploring its role in India's broader national imagination.

About the Author

Jasbir Jain is an Emeritus Fellow at the University of Rajasthan, Jaipur. Her current research focuses on the “Indigenous Roots of Feminism.” Jain’s academic interests span theory, epistemology, and Indian literature across various languages. Her recent works include Beyond Postcolonialism: Dreams and Realities of a Nation and Women in Patriarchy.