Violence and truth : a Rajasthani kingdom confronts colonial authority
"Violence and Truth demonstrates that colonialism not only imposed its own violence and ideology on Indian society but also led to a progressive redefinition of existing forms of violence and their interpretation at a local level. By documenting this process in the Rajasthani Kingdom of Sirohi, Denis Vidal invites us to reconsider prevalent models in the history and sociology of India. Exploring the diverse forms of protest favoured by different communities, including threats of suicide, armed rebellion and mass migration, he shows the central importance played by violence and the threat of violence in the organization of society. The book highlights the nature of the new modes of protest adopted by the population as older modes got discredited and some groups tried to escape marginalization by participating in the National Movement. The author argues that in order to understand how Gandhian ideas were perceived and implemented locally one must relate them to the debate about violence and truth that was going on at different levels of society."--BOOK JACKET