Thread by @WithinOther

Hi #twitterstorians this is part 3 of our thread on #Srinivas work. We focus on his views on #anthropology as a discipline linked to the nation. If you would like to see more about #Srinivas writings you can check our blog on #rememberedvillage 👇
theotherfromwithin.com/post/the-remem…

#Srinivas considered that #anthropology was a #colonial tool of governance that used used to 'divide and rule'. His views on the #census as a political tool anticipated the views of scholars such as #Cohn and #Dirks

However, for #Srinivas this was a doubled edged sword. Indian nationalists used the categories politicized by colonial rulers to 'discover' India's past and to create myths in the struggle for #independence

#Srinivas argued that #independence caused the professionalization of #anthropology and #sociology in India. These were to be used as a way to understand Indian political and social problems. For this, the disciplines needed to look inward and not to former colonial powers.

While #Srinivas was weary of the links between #anthropology the #state and #colonialism he believed that the function of social sciences were to inform governments about the complex nature of social relations in India.

In other words, #Srinivas was not as critical to the problematic role of #anthropology as a discipline linked to the State. For him it was clear that India had an #otherfromwithin that was to be transformed into a #citizen
@willgupshup @UoMhistdept @GarzaChairez @LeedsUniHistory

#Srinivas