Part of the Themes in Politics series, this volume contextualizes the theme of language and politics within an interdisciplinary framework, and draws attention to the intimate and complex overlap between culture and power at various levels. Rather than presenting the language question as simply one of communication in a multilingual country like India, this book analyses overlapping hierarchies centered around the identities of language, region, culture, caste, and religion.
Thematically organized into three broad sections, the reader examines the relationship between language, history, and nation; deals with the interface between language, region, and state; and situates identity politics within the larger context of language politics. A comprehensive introduction provides an overview of key aspects of language politics in India.