Graphic Politics in Eastern India: Script and the Quest for Autonomy

In this review of Graphic Politics in Eastern India: Script and the Quest for Autonomy, the reviewer finds a focused ethnographic study ideal for readers who want a rigorous look at how script shapes political claims. Nishaant Choksi's book offers a clear argument about the role of Santali scripts, including the newly created Ol Chiki, in everyday marketplaces, schools and print circulation; the single biggest reason to buy is its combination of fieldwork detail and theoretical framing that makes graphic politics tangible and analytically useful.

Key Features

• Ethnographic fieldwork: Based on extensive village-level research in southwestern West Bengal, the book provides grounded examples of how Santali speakers use scripts in real social contexts.
• Focus on script use: The study documents the deployment of multiple Santali scripts, including Ol Chiki, showing how written forms function as tools of political and cultural claim-making.
• Attention to local spheres: Choksi traces script visibility in Bengali-dominated local markets and the education system to demonstrate how language users delineate political domains.
• Print media circulation: The book examines how printed materials move through regional networks and contribute to scaling Santali from local to national arenas.
• Theoretical framing: Alongside narrative description, the author builds a conceptual account of graphic politics that links everyday signage and literacy practices to autonomy movements.

Who It's For

This book suits scholars and graduate students in linguistic anthropology, sociolinguistics and South Asian studies who need a concrete case study of language, script and politics. Practitioners involved in language planning or indigenous education will also find useful ethnographic insights about signage, schooling and print circulation.

Readers seeking a broad survey of Indian political history or a beginner's textbook on Santali language structure should look elsewhere; the book is a focused research monograph rather than a general introduction or a language learning resource.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Detailed fieldwork gives credible, context-rich examples of script use in villages and markets.
• Clear documentation of Ol Chiki alongside other Santali scripts highlights underexamined orthographic politics.
• The combination of ethnography and theory makes the concept of graphic politics analytically robust and transferable to other cases.
• Focus on education and print media illuminates mechanisms for scaling language claims beyond local settings.

Cons

• The specialist tone and depth of detail mean casual readers may find the book dense rather than accessible.

Specifications

Title	Graphic Politics in Eastern India: Script and the Quest for Autonomy
Author	Nishaant Choksi
Area of study	Ethnography of Santali script use in eastern India
Field sites	Villages of southwestern West Bengal
Main topics	Ol Chiki, local markets, education, print circulation
Approach	Theoretical and ethnographic analysis of graphic politics

Our Verdict

For researchers and advanced students interested in how script becomes a political resource, this book is a valuable, well-documented contribution that connects village practices to larger autonomy claims. Its focused scope and careful fieldwork make it good value for readers seeking a rigorous case study of script and political mobilization.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the book include fieldwork evidence?
Yes. The study is based on extensive fieldwork in villages of southwestern West Bengal and documents real-world script practices.

Which scripts are discussed?
The author examines multiple Santali scripts, most prominently the newly created Ol Chiki, in local markets, schools and print media.

Is this suitable for general readers?
Not primarily; the book is a specialist ethnographic and theoretical monograph aimed at scholars and advanced students.