Decolonizing Indian Studies

Book Detail

• Author: Arvind Sharma
• Publisher: D.K. Printworld Pvt. Ltd.
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of Pages: 297
• Release Date: 01-12-2015
• Language: English
• ISBN/EAN: 9788124608326
• Part Number: NAL936
• Package Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 1.0 inches

About the Book:
This book critically examines the Western academic perception of Indian history and culture, which was shaped largely during British colonial rule. It explores how colonial intellectual and political enterprises were intertwined, questioning the extent to which Western cultural biases influenced their interpretation of Indian civilization.

The book addresses key questions, such as:

• How did British colonial rule shape India's self-understanding?
• To what extent did Western cultural assumptions affect their view of India?
• How does globalization continue to influence cultural self-perception in an asymmetrical power structure?
• What are the implications of shifting political and intellectual alliances in shaping historical narratives?

Through a Saidian perspective (drawing from Edward Said’s Orientalism), the author examines colonial narratives and their long-term impact on how India perceives itself today.

Who Should Read This Book?

• Scholars and students of history, postcolonial studies, and cultural theory
• Readers interested in British colonialism’s impact on India
• Those exploring intellectual history and global power dynamics

This thought-provoking collection of essays challenges Eurocentric narratives and encourages rethinking India’s historical self-image in a postcolonial world.