A Book Review On, In the Shadows of the State: Indigenous Politics, Environmentalism, and Insurgency in Jharkhand, India (Book Review Sample)

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A Book Review On, In the Shadows of the State: Indigenous Politics, Environmentalism, and Insurgency in Jharkhand, India
In her work, In the shadows of the state, Shah provides a comprehensive ethnographic analysis of a newly formed state of Jharkhand. The book brings out how contracting perceptions about the creation of the new state, indigeneity, and political economy of land and water exist together in this area (8). Shah provides a brilliant analysis of several themes such as repercussions of the rights of the indigenous people, political directions, and environmental politicking. She analyzes the implications of these perceptions on the rights, development and politics of the natives of Jharkhand.
In cross-examining the ideas and thoughts about indigeneity, chapter one addresses an analysis in the involvement of the activists and international discourse. She argues in this chapter that the needs of the poor Adivasis are in most cases challenged and undermined by the middle class living in urban areas and local elites who aspire to rise in the ladder of class (11-12). She also takes a critical analysis of how the thought about indigeneity globally created a system that promotes marginalization of the poor indigenous people.
The compelling trend throughout her work is the high level of exploitation associations between the elite group from the rural area, officials, and politicians from the state. These groups work hand in hand in siphoning resources and preventing development in this rural land (27). The chapter also examines the how the policies of the British colonial system affects the rural people of Adivasi (32). According to Shah, the indigenous activists fight toward reclaiming the state for the benefit of the locals, while another group comprised of elites of the rural maintains supremacy by interrupting democracy.
The second chapter analyzes how the indigenous activists promote restoration indigenous governance system through debates. The activists argue that, naturally, conceptual differences are likely to exist between the traditional management and Western bourgeoisie systems of governance. Chapter two gives a deep ethnographic research on negotiations and constant conflict between the sacral and non-religious groups regarding Jharkhand’s socio-economic life. Shah stresses that democracy according to Munda which reflects on the significance of the local form of governance because it represents a form of politics which doesn’t separate the spiritual dominion of the indigenous people (64). The author ends the chapter by stressing that Munda’s view of democracy should be the foundation of political direction in this land of Jharkhand.
In the third chapter, Shah shed light on the involvement of the rural leaders in the affairs of the state. She argues that the concept of corruption alone in the system can never be enough in understanding how class hierarchies are involved in all sectors of development. Poverty is due to marginalization and organized exclusion from the process of development. The author describes how the rural elite apply the resources for development in showing off their dominance in this state (85). The fourth chapter takes a closer look on the between the environment and the Adivasis. The activist notes that the indigenous people are nature-friendly where they live in harmony. But this notion of the native population being nature-friendly is also their downfall. They are not allowed to kill for example elephants when they destroy lives (111). Also, a lot of resources are directed towards conservation of the environment while the rural people are left to languish in poverty.
Shah in Chapter Five takes a firm stand on the rights of the indigenous people and their root in the land. The Adivasis have been incarcerated because of their deep-rooted position in their area (138). The rural people migrate from season to season to look for work. The activists argue that this migration is due to exploitation by the capitalist. But according to Shah, migration is due to other reasons such as moving away from family relations. Shah argues that activists who campaign against migration are fulfilling the predominance of the middle class over the indigenous people.
In her work, Shah brings out the picture of how indi...