Author: Rajendra Chenni

State Matters: Kannada Subnationalism and State Formation analyzes the formation of a linguistic state and the inevitability of the contradictions arising from material and historical conditions. It examines the historical and political context which led to the emergence and acceptance of linguistic or regional identities during the freedom struggle, a struggle which ironically tried to subsume these identities into one master discourse of the nation.

This book, traversing disciplinary boundaries, weaves complex disparate elements into the concept of linguistic subnationality. It underlines how linguistic subnationality is sustained against the push and pull of caste/class hegemony, national party-based politics, and larger forces of development and globalization.

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