Peter B. Andersen

The book presents a new interpretation of the Santal Rebellion, the Hul 1855–1856, drawing on the colonial sources as well as Santal memories. It offers a critique of postcolonial approaches that overlook specifically tribal perspectives and see the Hul as a class-based peasant rebellion. The author analyses the Hul and its participants—the Santals and their opponents, both the colonial administration and the Bengalis. He also looks at the attempts of the Hul’s leaders, Sido and K?nhu to reform the Santal religion. Offering a new, respectful reading of the Hul’s religious legitimation, the book argues that changes in Santal religion and ethics were responses to the colonial regime’s new and aggressive economic order. The Hul’s leaders, Sido and K?nhu, demanded the introduction of just laws based on the universal principle of equality. This historical approach leads to a call for the inclusion of the voice of tribal and Adivasi minorities when formulating politics for their development in the 21st century. The book is relevant for researchers and students of social history, social reform, tribal and indigenous studies, postcolonial studies and South Asian studies.

The book presents a new interpretation of the Santal Rebellion, the Hul 1855–1856, drawing on the colonial sources as well as Santal memories. It offers a critique of postcolonial approaches that overlook specifically tribal perspectives and see the Hul as a class-based peasant rebellion. The author analyses the Hul and its participants—the Santals and their opponents, both the colonial administration and the Bengalis. He also looks at the attempts of the Hul’s leaders, Sido and K?nhu to reform the Santal religion. Offering a new, respectful reading of the Hul’s religious legitimation, the book argues that changes in Santal religion and ethics were responses to the colonial regime’s new and aggressive economic order. The Hul’s leaders, Sido and K?nhu, demanded the introduction of just laws based on the universal principle of equality. This historical approach leads to a call for the inclusion of the voice of tribal and Adivasi minorities when formulating politics for their development in the 21st century. The book is relevant for researchers and students of social history, social reform, tribal and indigenous studies, postcolonial studies and South Asian studies.

Usikker Modernitet undersøger udviklingen i danskernes værdier over fire årtier og indfanger de historiske forandringer, som er foregået siden 1981. Danmark omtales ofte som et samfund kendetegnet af lykke, tillid og tolerance, hvor hverken religion eller social klasse for alvor deler befolkningen op, og hvor ligestilling, miljøbevidsthed og ikke-autoritær opdragelse er værdier, der samler de fleste. Det billede kan man imidlertid ikke tage for givet, da mange af disse værdier er forholdsvis nye, og nogle af dem endda kun findes hos en mindre del af befolkningen. I 2017 var der mange danskere, der var mindre lykkelige og mindre tillidsfulde, end de var blot et årti tidligere. Usikker Modernitet undersøger alt fra danskernes nationale stolthed, bekymring for indvandring, politiske deltagelse, politiske værdier, holdninger til overvågning og miljøbeskyttelse, frivilligt arbejde, religion, medborgermoral, ligestilling, opdragelse og oplevelse af ulykkelighed og analyserer udviklinger og tilbageslag i et sociologisk perspektiv. Bogen præsenterer resultaterne fra Den danske værdiundersøgelse. Undersøgelsen er en del af et europæisk projekt og foretaget siden 1981 og senest i 2017. Ved hver undersøgelse er der et stort antal spørgsmål, der er identiske, og derfor kan man – helt enestående – sammenligne over tid. Bogen er redigeret af lektor i sociologi på Aalborg UniversitetMorten Frederiksen.

Presents the text in Danish.