000			02402nam a2200193Ia 4500
999			_c68969 _d68969
005			20220218164100.0
008			200204s9999 xx 000 0 und d
020			_a9781583670354
082			_a306.74 BAN
100			_aBanerjee,Sumanta
245		0	_aUnder the raj ; prostitution in colonial Bengal
260			_aNew York
260			_bMonthly Review Press
260			_c1998
300			_a228 p.
520			_aUnder the Raj explores the world of the prosti tute, seeking to understand the culture of the trade and its impact on society, in the changing reality of nineteenth century Bengal. Sumanta Banerjee outlines the class structure that emerged within the profession, examines popu lar perceptions of prostitution, and addresses questions of identity, autonomous space, collective consciousness and constructions of femininity within the prostitute community. In the process, he crafts a more supple and nuanced definition of the sociology of prostitution, moving beyond homogenizing or monolithic notions to reveal the diverse and often contradictory forces shaping commercial and social relations in colonial society. Sumanta Banerjee draws from a diverse range of official and popular sources including - and what is significant here - the rich oral tradition and written accounts of the prostitutes themselves. Banerjee breaks new ground, situating prostitution in colonial Bengal at the intersection where different segments of the population-ranging from British soldiers to Indian workers-briefly converged. Under the Raj is a fascinating study and major contribution to ongoing research in cultural and feminist studies and critical theory. Prostitution in nineteenth century Bengal acquires relevance today as the heirs to this profession are themselves organizing in different parts of India to seek justice and demand rights, thus reviving the old debate over legalization or prohibition of their professional work. Sumanta Banerjee, is best known for his The Simmering Revolution: The Naxalite Uprising and The Thema Book of Naxalite Poetry, two seminal texts on the Naxalite Revolt. His milestone study, The Parlour and the Streets: Elite and Popular Culture in Nineteenth Century Calcutta, was published by Seagull in 1989. He is presently based in New Delhi, doing research on the popular culture and religion of Bengal.
650			_aProstitution
942			_cB _2ddc