Publisher's Synopsis
This book explores the formation of contemporary South Asia as a geopolitical metaphor, psycho-cultural concept, and historical trope. It traces the region's colonial past, focusing on the evolution of its semantic and semiotic meanings, particularly through the lens of Michel Foucault's methods of genealogy and archaeology. The book examines how Orientalism and liberalism, key elements of colonial power and epistemology, shaped the conception of modern South Asia. It argues that these discourses were not isolated but intertwined, shaped by Edmund Burke's ideas on imperial rectitude, the utilitarian reform agenda focused on "improvement," and Victorian notions of morality and civility.
Through this analysis, the book shows how the British, using the coercive power of colonialism, produced knowledge about India, blending post-Enlightenment values with perceptions of the colonized periphery. This mix of metropolitan ideals and colonial narratives shaped the understanding of South Asia in ways that were deeply ideological and epistemic. Ultimately, the book asserts that the conception of modern South Asia was formed through a complex interplay of colonial knowledge, which sought to frame the region within a distorted, imperial worldview. By mapping this intersection of power, knowledge, and culture, the book provides a critical genealogy of the modern South Asian identity.
