Manohar Publishers and Distributors

25 September, 2012

An Unforgettable Dalit Voice: Life, Writings and Speeches of M.C. Rajah

By- Swaraj Basu

Professor

This book is a collection of writings and speeches of M.C. Rajah who was one of the great Dalit leaders of pre-Independent India. Anyone interested in understanding the history of India’s Dalit movement will find this book very valuable. M.C. Rajah was born in a Dalit family of Tamil Nadu in 1883 and till he died in 1943 he was in the forefront of the Dalit’s struggle for equality, justice and rights. What is most important about him is that he was the first Dalit leader in the Madras Legislative Council and also the first Dalit leader in the Central Legislative Assembly. His commitment towards the cause of Dalits and particularly his efforts to make provision for education of Dalits drew the attention of the British government and he was conferred the title of Rai Bahadur in 1922. Being influenced by the Non-Brahmin movement in Tamil Nadu M.C. Rajah realized the importance of mobilizing Dalits whose interests in his opinion were not protected by Non-Brahmin leaders. Written in 1925 his book, The Oppressed Hindus, gives an account of the glorious history and tradition of Dalits in Tamil Nadu and the new identity given to them as ‘Adi-Dravidas’. M.C. Rajah’s representations to the British government, correspondence with Gandhiji and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and his speeches in the provincial and central legislatures for about twenty years provide valuable insights about his struggle for the empowerment of Dalits.

Swaraj Basu is Professor in History at Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi. He is the author of Dynamics of a Caste Movement: The Rajbansis of North Bengal, 1910-1947, and has published articles on caste identity and politics in india.

ISBN 978-81-7304-966-8 2012 318p. Rs895/Pounds 50

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Against the Current: Organizational Restructuring of SEBs

By- Joël Ruet (ed)

Published in association with

Centre de Sciences Humaines, New Delhi

On paper, State Electricity Boards in India are supposed to provide electricity to a billion people across the country. In reality, however, what they provide to the consumers are poor quality power and endless power cuts. Besides, they are forever incurring losses and are thus a burden on State exchequers. We are told that this is only due to their ‘politicization’ and ‘inefficiency’. But is that the whole truth?

This book brings together ten specialists, with different ‘ideological’ backgrounds, who examine the issue of privatization of SEBs and argue that this is not the only solution to the problem. The contributors have a deep familiarity of the SEBs’ workings at all levels—from the meter reader to the higher echelons of the bureaucracy. And it is this intimate knowledge which the contributors have utilized to suggest key aspects of reforms of SEBs.

The book explains in detail how ‘depoliticization’ is not an issue in itself. On the contrary the book shows how SEBs can first be managed and then reformed. It goes on to examine the issue from different perspectives and then reveals what people within the system know about ‘inefficiency’ and what they don’t, what, they can decide, and what they can’t, what they actually do, and what they don’t. In short, it proposes a journey through the organizations to which hundreds of million Indians stand connected, day and night, through a maze of electric networks. The book thus not only raises issues but primarily suggests possible solutions.

Joël Ruet holds a Ph.D. in Economics (Paris) and is an Engineer from the Ecole des Mines, Paris. He has been working for EDF, the French public power company for several years. Since 2000 he has been the Head of the Economics Department, Centre de Sciences Humaines, New Delhi. His specialization is in the areas of reform of electricity sector in various countries, and socio-economic study of the public sector in India.

ISBN 81-7304-478-3 2003 224p. Rs.500/Pounds 40

24 September, 2012

Working Class Movement in India in the Wake of Globalization

Working Class Movement in India in the Wake of Globalization

By- Jose George (Prof), Manoj Kumar (Asstt. Prof.) and Dharmendra Ojha (Activist) eds.

After the collapse of the erstwhile Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the East European communist bloc, capitalism abandoned its ‘liberal’ programmes worldwide, and this brought about three-fourths of the world’s population at the mercy of the blind and ruthless forces of the market.

In India too, the wave of liberalization under a new economic policy, which had been agreed upon and promoted by both the big political parties, i.e. Congress party and the Bharatiya Janata Party, put untold pressures, uncertainties and hardships on the toiling masses. Welfare schemes and subsidies to goods and services provided by the state were slowly withdrawn and the representative class of finance capital took a reactionary posture in political and social life. In India, the crisis at grassroots’ levels has led to a historical unity among trade unions affiliated with different political parties, and there is hope that they may join hands in the struggle for better living conditions.

Against this backdrop, this book, which is an outcome of a national seminar, tries to understand and analyse the conditions of the working class people in India. Various dimensions of working class people’s life and politics have been deliberated here. Also, an attempt has been made to present a working class perspective on various economic and social issues of contemporary Indian society.

Jose George: Prof. & former Head of the Department of Civics & Politics, University of Mumbai.

Manoj Kumar is an Asst. Prof. with Department of Political Science & International Relations, Wollega University, Nekemte, Oromia State, Ethiopia.

Dharmendra Ojha has been a Scientist with the ONGC. He has been active on social and cultural fronts and is a regular contributor to various literary and cultural periodicals and news magazines.

ISBN 978-81-7304-963-7 2012 477p. Rs.1295/Pounds 60

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The Tibetan World of the Indian Himalayas: An Ethnography of the ‘Garden of Dakini’

By- Tanase Jiro

Research Scholar & Teacher

In the Lahul region of Himachal Pradesh, Hindu and Tibetan cultures coexist. This region is also known as ‘Garsha Kandoling’ to Tibetans, which means ‘Garsha, a garden of Dakini’.

The people of Lahul live 3,400 metres above sea level in a challenging mountainous environment. Most of the original inhabitants are Mongoloid, and believe in Tibetan Buddhism. Their traditional ways of life are also Tibetan-like, and suitably adapted for the rigours of life at high altitude.

This book is based on fieldwork conducted from 1987 onwards. In the first half of the book, anthropological data about Lahuli society is presented. Various topics such as the means of inheriting wealth, gender issues, and marriage customs (including the practice of adopting a bridegroom into the bride’s family) are discussed. The discussion is thematically focused on the issue of opposing principles between the household (Kyum), and family (Jinmad). Polyandry, a unique form of marriage in Tibet, can be understood as a means of mediation between these principles.

The second half of the book describes a utopian religious movement that developed in the early 1960s and which later led to the tragic journey undertaken to discover Demojong, a Beyul (hidden country) that was said to exist near Kanchenjunga. The leader of this movement—Terton Tulshuk Lingpa (1916-63), was a Ningmapa yogi from Tibet.

Following India’s Independence in 1947, Lahuli society and culture has been transformed dramatically. But as this intimate portrait drawn by a Japanese anthropologist shows, the people of Lahul have successfully re-organized and adapted their way of life, whilst preserving their traditional values and religion.

Tanaase Jiro researches and teaches Anthropology in the School of Human Cultures at the University of Shiga Prefecture, Japan

ISBN 978-81-7304-957-6 2012 140p. Rs.475/Pounds 35

23 September, 2012

Christian Themes in Indian Art: From the Mogul Times till Today

By- Anand Amaladass SJ and Gudrun Lowner

This book is a pioneering work presenting Christian themes in Indian art from the beginnings of Christianity in India till today. The authors have, in the main, dealt with paintings and sculptures, but have supplemented this with one chapter on architecture, particularly that of church buildings, and one on popular art, including stamps. More than 1,100 rare coloured illustrations make this publication a unique reference book. It is the first complex treatment of the theme done in the last 25 years. Special emphasis is given to artists who as Hindus, Muslims and Parsees have chosen to paint Biblical themes. Already in the 16^th century the encouraging and surprising encounter between European Christian prints and Indian miniature paintings took place. The Muslim Emperor Akbar invited three Jesuit missions from Goa to the Mogul court. Fascinated by European Madonnas and engravings, especially with Christian themes, he ordered his paintings to copy them in various ways. This was the start of a revolutionary fusion in Indian miniatures.

Most of the Bengali artists who were attracted by the human God Jesus and his agony are Hindus like Nandalal Bose, Jamini Roy, Nikhal Biswas, Arup Das, Suhas Roy, Suman Roy, Sudip Roy etc. The authors always give a short biography and then highlight his/her works connected with the theme. The late Muslim M.F. Husain, whose faceless Mother Teresa pictures became icons, is presented side by side with his close friends, the Hindu Krishnen Khanna, the Parsee Jehangir Sabavala, the Hindu artists Satish Gujral, V. Nageshkar, Anjolie Menon, Ramchandran and the Sikh sisters Amrita and Rabindra Kaur Singh. The Who is Who of Indian art history is presented from a new angle. Christian artists include the late F.N. Souza, who simultaneously hated and loved his Christian childhood God, and artists like A.D. Thomas, Angela Trindade, A. Fonesca, V. Masoji, F. Wesley (both by Naomi Wray), C.J. Anthony Doss, Alphonso Doss, S. Raj, J. Sahi, L. D’Souza-Krone, Sister Clair etc., all who stand for the attempt to incorporate the Christian gospel into the Indian culture. This original research includes many young talents too. An extensive Bibliography, Glossary and Index make this book an indispensable reference source for many years to come. Every library and individuals interested in intercultural encounter between India and the West in art, intercultural theology, dialogue and history must have this book.

Anand Amaldass SJ studied Philosophy and Catholic Theology. He took a Master’s degree in Sanskrit and a Ph. D. from the University of Madras in 1981. Since 1984, he is teaching at Satya Nilayam Jesuit Faculty of Philosophy in Chennai, now part of the Loyola (Autonomous) College, Chennai. He was Dean of the Faculty and Director of the Research Institute for Philosophy and Sanskrit. Since his post-doctoral studies at the Vienna University, Austria in 1982-1984, he has taught nearly every year as a visiting professor in Frankfurt/Germany 2012. He has also been visiting faculty at the Wurzburg University, Germany and the Gregorian University in Rome. His area of research includes Indian philosophy and religion, aesthetics and interfaith dialogue . More than 40 books have been written or edited by him including a publication on the Dhvani theory in Indian Aesthetics (Vienna, Austria, 1984). He has also published around 100 articles in English and in Indian books and journals.

Gudrun Lowner studied Protestant Theology and comparitive religion in Bochum, Wuppertal, Geneva and Heidelberg. Her Ph. D. was from Heildelberg University in 1997 after intensive field studies in Sri Lanka. Her thesis has the title Religion and Development in Sri Lanka. Her studies were supported by the Fritz Thyssen Foundation in Cologne, Germany. In 2008 she received the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany for her academic and social work in India. After working on the staff of the Protestant University of Wuppertal, Germany, she is now working in Bangalore. Her areas of research include Buddhism, India and art.

ISBN 978-81-7304-945-3 2012 428p. Rs.4000/Pounds 95

20 September, 2012

United Provinces’ Politics, 1939: The End of the First Congress Ministry: Governors’ Fortnightly Reports and other Key Documents

By- Lionel Carter (comp. & ed.)

This is the third volume in a series which provides the texts of the Fortnightly Reports sent by the Governors of the United Provinces to the Viceroy. Other key documents sent by the Governors or their Secretaries are also included. The volume covers the last ten months of the first Congress Ministry in the U.P. and the last eleven months of Sir Harry Haig’s term as Governor. 110 documents are printed in total.

1939 was a very disturbed year in the U.P. with a marked increase in communal tension and violence. The Muslim League was growing in strength as well as bodies like the Mahasabha, Youth League and Forward Bloc. The Ministry itself was destabilised as a result of pressure from the left-wing elements within a Congress and the dissatisfaction of the wider electorate.

In September war broke out between Britain and Germany. The volume documents how the negotiations to try to secure Congress cooperation were viewed from the U.P. The negotiations were unsuccessful and in November the Ministry resigned and the Governor took charge of the province.

For more than ten years, Lionel Carter was a member of the team (led by Nicholas Mansergh) which produced the British Government’s series of Documents on the Transfer of Power to India, 1942-1947. From 1980 until 1999, Carter served as Secretary and Librarian of the Centre of South Asian Studies at the University of Cambridge.

ISBN 978-81-7304-868-5 2010 420p. Rs.1050/ pounds 60

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United Provinces’ Politics 1938: Congress in Mid-Term: Governors’ Fortnightly Reports and other Key Documents

By- Lionel Carter (comp. and ed.)

This is the second volume in a series which provides the texts of the Fortnightly Reports sent by the Governors of the United Provinces to the Viceroy. Other key documents sent by the Governors or their Secretaries are also included. There are 97 items in total.

Congress had been in power in the UP for just under six months when this volume opens and within a further six weeks a crisis had arisen over the release of political prisoners. The Ministers submitted their resignations on 15 February 1938 but with compromise and diplomacy on all sides they had returned to office ten days later.

Thereafter the Congress Ministry concentrated on a wide-ranging programme of legislative and administrative reform at the centre of which was a bill for tenancy reform. As the year progressed leftward pressures and communal difficulties increased and the Governor became concerned at the weakened position of the Premier, G.B. Pant.

Editor’s Introduction; Abbreviations; Principal Holders of Office, 1938; Summaries of Documents; Map of the United Provinces; 1. Documents for 1 January–5 March 1938; 2. Documents for 9 March–17 May 1938; 3. Documents for 27 May–16 September 1938; 4. Documents for 26 September–31 December 1938; Appendices; Index.

ISBN 978-81-7304-840-4 2009 420p. Rs.1045/ pounds 60

MANOHAR PUBLISHERS & DISTRIBUTORS
4753/23 Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi 110002
Phones: 23284848, 23289100
Fax: 23265162
E-mail: manbooks@vsnl.com
sales@manoharbooks.com

To order your copy at www.manoharbooks.com