Lost Worlds: Indian Labour and its Forgotten Histories

by Chitra Joshi

In its analysis of the complex relationship between past and present, memory and history, culture and practice, community and nation, everyday life and moments of upheaval, this book represents a very significant academic contribution to labour history in South Asia.

Genres: History

380 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2005

Reviews

[Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moshi argues for the continued predominance of Hindu traditions over Marxist class identity in the Indian labor force. She describes attempts to reshape workers’ socioeconomic identities, showing why workers have multiple identities that do not fit neatly into homogeneous categories. She also points out the strained relationships within the working class between Hindus and Muslims and between the Congress government and workers resulting from repeated government repression of strikers. She notes how gender identities are threatened by male unemployment rates. Of particular note is the use of oral interviews to help garner a sense of Indian workers' opinions.