Language Politics, Elites and the Public Sphere

The examination of linguistic hierarchies and power dynamics in colonial western India reveals how local intellectuals navigated their "middling" status to influence ideology and culture. Dr. Naregal highlights the significance of print and communication channels, such as newspapers, in shaping colonial literacy and challenging the established "high" literary culture. By analyzing the strategies employed by the "native" intelligentsia, the book elucidates their role in education, press, and voluntary associations, ultimately contributing to the emergence of anticolonial thought and nationalistic discourse.