Archive · 19 Jul 2026
Umar Khalid's Book on Adivasi Histories
Umar Khalid wrote a book about the history of Adivasi people in Singhbhum, Jharkhand.
He shows how the British used local leaders to control the area and how the Indian government today has to balance protecting Adivasi rights with building things like mines and dams.
The book explains why it's complicated and how the past affects the present.
Khalid faced a lot of trouble, like being arrested, but still finished his book.
It's important because it helps us understand the struggles of Adivasi communities and how the government deals with them.
Umar Khalid's book 'Fractured Communities' explores the history and politics of Adivasi communities in Singhbhum, Jharkhand.
Khalid argues that the colonial state used indigenous institutions to assert authority rather than replacing them.
The book challenges the oversimplification of Adivasi-state conflicts, showing the complexities of their relationships.
Constitutional protections for Adivasis often conflict with developmental projects, leading to displacement and alienation.
Khalid's work combines rigorous scholarship with a commitment to marginalized communities, despite facing legal battles and imprisonment.
- Who
- Umar Khalid, a scholar and activist, and the Adivasi communities of Singhbhum district, Jharkhand.
- What
- The publication of Umar Khalid's book 'Fractured Communities: Adivasi Histories and the Politics of Power', which explores the history and politics of Adivasi communities in Singhbhum.
- When
- The book was published recently, with Khalid's doctoral thesis completed despite his imprisonment and legal battles.
- Where
- The book focuses on the Singhbhum district in Jharkhand, India.
- Why
- To provide a nuanced understanding of Adivasi histories and the complexities of their relationship with the state, particularly in the context of constitutional protections and developmental projects.
Scholarship and Activism
Government and Legal System
Role of Scholarship
Scholarship and Activism
Umar Khalid's work combines rigorous scholarship with a commitment to marginalized communities, providing a nuanced understanding of Adivasi histories and politics.
Government and Legal System
The government and legal system have often viewed Khalid's activism as subversive, leading to his arrest and prosecution under laws like the UAPA.
Constitutional Protections vs. Development
Scholarship and Activism
Constitutional protections aim to safeguard Adivasi rights and lands, but these protections are often undermined by developmental projects.
Government and Legal System
The state argues that developmental projects are necessary for economic growth and progress, even if they lead to displacement and alienation of Adivasi lands.
- Author
- Umar Khalid
- Book Title
- Fractured Communities: Adivasi Histories and the Politics of Power
- Publication Year
- 2023
- Key Themes
- Adivasi histories, colonial administration, constitutional protections, developmental dispossession
- Foreword by
- Ramachandra Guha
- Afterword by
- Nandini Sundar
- Region Studied
- Singhbhum district, Jharkhand
- Key Arguments
- Colonial state used indigenous institutions to assert authority; Adivasi societies were not isolated but part of regional networks; constitutional protections often conflict with developmental projects