History and Ethnography of Kamatapur Movement in India

What is it about?

The article presents an interesting case of identity politics, where the history of seeking recognition for the Rajbanshi demonstrates interesting shifts and paradoxes in the strategic uses of the past and the associated claims for identity. The paper argues that this re-interpretation and re-creation of identity has been an age old social and political process of several groups of people living in this area, which would not be possible to understand within the conventional framework of history.

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Why is it important?

The paper provides an alternative approach to look at the so called separatist movements in India. It also questions the apparent dichotomy that apparently exists between the past and the present.