Rachana Sangraha 1, 2

🔹 Author : Ranjit Guha

🔹 ISBN: 9789388870504

🔹 Genre: Rachanabali, Collected Works

🔹 Pages: 904

🔹 Weight: 1853 grams / Cover : Hardcover

Volume 1: History, Society, and Politics

In this first volume, Ranjit Guha, one of the most renowned historians and theorists, showcases his contributions to the field of history and social sciences. His revolutionary work in subaltern studies—the study of history from the perspective of marginalized and oppressed groups—has had a lasting impact on the discipline, especially in colonial and postcolonial studies.

Key Features:

• Subaltern Studies: Ranjit Guha is credited with pioneering the subaltern studies movement, which reshaped the way history was viewed in relation to power dynamics and marginalized voices.
• Marxist Influences: His work, deeply rooted in Marxist theory, explores history and politics from the lens of the oppressed, focusing on voices and narratives that were traditionally overlooked.
• Major Works Included:
  • The first volume of Subaltern Studies (1982), edited by Guha, remains a seminal text in the study of colonial history from the bottom-up perspective.
  • His other critical works on colonialism, nationalism, and social movements are also included, presenting a comprehensive view of his contributions to history and social theory.

This volume is a must-have for anyone studying history, political science, or social movements, as it contains Ranjit Guha’s most essential writings that helped redefine historical scholarship globally.

Volume 2: Literature

While Ranjit Guha is primarily known for his work as a historian and social theorist, he has also made significant contributions to the field of literary criticism. This second volume gathers all of his writings on literature, starting from his early reflections on literary works to his more recent critical essays published in 2009.

Key Features:

• Sociological Approach to Literature: Guha brings his unique sociological and historical perspective into literary criticism, analyzing how literature shapes and is shaped by social and political forces.
• Focus on Individual and Collective Identity: His literary analysis often explores the relationship between the self, the collective, and nature, and how these themes manifest in literature.
• Prominent Bengali Writers: Guha has engaged with well-known Bengali writers and works, offering critical insights into their contributions to the literary world.
• Essay Collections: This volume includes his critical essays, which go beyond traditional literary analysis to discuss the connections between literature, history, and society.

Why This Collection Matters:

1. Pioneering Theories: Ranjit Guha’s work in Subaltern Studies reshaped not only history but also literary criticism, making his writings foundational for scholars in both fields.
2. Expansive Perspective: Guha’s exploration of literature as a tool for social and political reflection is an excellent example of the intersection between academic fields.
3. Relevance in Modern Context: With an ongoing interest in social justice, postcolonial studies, and literature that speaks to marginality, this collection is timely and impactful for readers in the 21st century.