
Language and the Making of Modern India
Nationalism and the Vernacular in Colonial Odisha, 1803–1956
- English
- PDF
- Available on iOS & Android
Language and the Making of Modern India
Nationalism and the Vernacular in Colonial Odisha, 1803–1956
About this book
Through an examination of the creation of the first linguistically organized province in India, Odisha, Pritipuspa Mishra explores the ways regional languages came to serve as the most acceptable registers of difference in post-colonial India. She argues that rather than disrupting the rise and spread of All-India nationalism, regional linguistic nationalism enabled and deepened the reach of nationalism in provincial India. Yet this positive narrative of the resolution of Indian multilingualism ignores the cost of linguistic division. Examining the case of the Adivasis of Odisha, Mishra shows how regional languages in India have come to occupy a curiously hegemonic position. Her study pushes us to rethink our understanding of the vernacular in India as a powerless medium and acknowledges the institutional power of language, contributing to global debates about linguistic justice and the governance of multilingualism. This title is also available as Open Access.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Half-title page
- Title page
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- List of Maps
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction: Nation in the Vernacular
- 1 How the Vernacular Became Regional
- 2 Vernacular Publics: A Modern Odia Readership Imagined
- 3 The Odia Political Subject and the Rise of the Odia Movement
- 4 Odisha as Vernacular Homeland
- 5 The Invisible Minority: History and the Problem of the Adivasi
- 6 The Genius of India: Linguistic Difference, Regionalism, and the Indian Nation
- Postscript
- Bibliography
- Index