Silenced Histories: Subaltern Resistance in Colonial and Postcolonial India

The Subaltern Studies collective emerged in the 1980s as a radical intervention in the historiography of South Asia, aiming to recenter historical narratives around those marginalized or silenced by colonial and nationalist discourses. This paper explores the concept of subalternity and focuses on the forms of resistance enacted by subaltern groups in colonial and postcolonial India. Through an analysis of peasant rebellions, tribal uprisings, and Dalit movements, the paper examines how these suppressed voices reveal alternative modes of political expression and challenge dominant historical narratives. The paper also considers how subaltern resistance continues to manifest in contemporary India and the limitations of academic and institutional frameworks in representing these voices.