Cities and Protests: Perspectives in spatial criticism A review by Dr Jim Taylor

-

 As cultural studies theorist Iain Chambers noted, urban “reality” is not single but multiple, and that inside the city is always another city. The reference to various “cities” can exist within the city (p. xiv) underlies Mamta Mantri’s introductory argument of a counter-statist “protestors’ city”. The book is about protests and the need for voices to be heard among women and the urban and rural poor. The collection, except for one chapter, largely concerns India. It represents an example of a new, enthusiastic and passionate genre of interdisciplinary South Asian scholarship. It is a delight to read with ease (a book to take on the train, or in the park to read) and without unnecessary jargon; it is poetic, and each chapter fits together neatly, synchronically.  The collection articulates a spatial logic, with only a few references early on to Edward Soja and David Harvey; though Frederic Jameson (call for a spatial metaphor) would have been interesting. Most of the chapters concern practice, history and lived experience. The particularities of the protest movements aside, if Lefebvre (concerned with socio-spatial and urban theory), had been able to read the book, he would have delighted in its political, place-based grit, and its spatial poetics. The sketches are wonderful and the narrative throughout takes the reader behind the barricades and onto the compact streets of urban places; to the “protestors’ city”. The notion of “protest cities against the state” needs elaborating, we are shown only alluring glimpses and tantalizing snippets through the art and narrative. It would also be nice to have a reference list at the end of the book and an index. Thus said, a highly recommended text for students, scholars, and anyone interested in the sociology and politics of protest in urban India.

Dr Jim Taylor

Adjunct Associate Professor,

Anthropology & Development Studies,

The University of Adelaide,

Australia. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

ननिहाल या मामा घर

-
हां, में उन खुश नसीबों में से हु, जिन्होंने ननिहाल का लाड दुलार, सुख और ऐश्वर्य का भोग किया है। मेरे तीन मामा है, अब तो बॉम्बे वाले ही है। सबसे बड़े मामाजी की कोई ज़्यादा याद नहीं है। लेकिन उनका दुलार भरा चेहरा हमेशा ही आँखों के सामने आ जाता है, जब भी उनकी बात निकलती है। अजमेर वाले मामाजी का तो मेरे जीवन की सबसे मीठी यादों मे योगदान रहा है। पर आज मै बॉम्बे वाले मामाजी के बखान करुँगी। माँ कहती है मामाजी मे उसको नानाजी का रूप और गुण खूब दिखता है। नानाजी का तो सिर्फ धुंधला चेहरा ही याद है, लेकिन मामाजी को देखकर लगता है कि नानाजी बहुत ही गुणों के धनी ही होंगे। वे तो सरपंच थे और आस पास के सारे गाँवों मे उनके डंका बजता था। नानाजी पर भी कुछ लिखूंगी, मेरी माँ और भाई बहनो से पूछ कर उनका भी चित्रण करुँगी। मामाजी हमेशा ही भविष्य की ओर देखते है। उनके लिए अतीत का क्या महत्व है, उसका मुझे कोई इल्म नहीं है। जब हम परिवार जन मिलते है, तो हर किसी के पास गांव मे बिताया हुआ कोई न कोई किस्सा, कोई न कोई क्षण तो मिल ही जाता। मामाजी के अतीत की कोई कहानी उनकी ज़ुबानी आज तक नहीं सुनी। कभी सोचती हु की काश मे भ...
Read more

Bombay Novels: Some Insights in Spatial Criticism A review by N Chandra published in Muse India

-
  Evolution of a city across different periods Bombay Novels: Some Insights in Spatial Criticism  by Mamta Mantri attempts to recreate the spaces of the metropolitan Mumbai city through literary representations which include both past and present. It also explores the motif of how Mumbai is a confluence of ‘imaginary geography’ and ‘literary images’. Select literary texts are used by the author to cull out and comprehend the influence of social, economic, and material factors in refashioning spatial history: “The metropolis of today is the chameleon, changing shape and size. Margins evolve into the center; centers turn into frontiers and regions become cities.” (60) By employing an interdisciplinary approach, the author has attempted to trace the history of Mumbai chronologically from the 11 th  century AD. Significant events inclusive of the impacts of 1905 Bengal partition and the riots during 1920-22 Non-Cooperation movement are recorded. Mamta Mantri ably chronicles t...
Read more

In the drapes and yards_My saree collection

-
Image
  My sarees are an expression of my feminism, where I don't have to wear certain kind of clothing to prove myself. I think I can express myself better in the long drapes of the saree. The rich textile traditions of the country inspire me. I have a varied collection, which include Jamdani, Paithani, Geecha Silk, Doria, Cottons, Block Prints, et al. Geecha Silk Handwoven Bhagalpur Silk Saree  cotton black weaves with golden border paired with an ikat blouse Block printed Bagh, Madhya Pradesh the subtle brown color of the block prints are a perfect contrast to the pink base Block Print cotton Saree Purple cotton saree with ikat and other color stripes Cotton Saree in my marwari colors of yellow and red The classic Ikat Cotton Teliya Jamdani Bengal, reds and oranges contrast with the grey backgorund Kota Doria in brown  Machine made ilkal saree  Handwoven Ilkal purple and orange crating a Raja Ravi Verma Pa...
Read more