From: "Annapurna Mamidipudi" <mannapurna-AT-hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Behula's Dream
Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 22:03:17 PDT


>The attempt to speak *with* is important.By saying "I cannot speak
>for the `subaltern' because I am far too privileged to understand >to 
interpret hir actions `correctly'" etc, we are in fact >"disappearing"
>(not just "silencing" ) the subaltern and risking the danger of not 
>even
>engaging with the problems and issues concerning the less privileged
>(materially, culturally etc) of the world.....

while the arguement on prakriti [rinita] and purush [soumithra] can go 
on endlessly:), i feel both are right....
regarding  radhika's above comment....i feel that it is valid only as a 
starting point. For some of us [who are dialogueing with the 'subaltern' 
on her terms in her space in her village]we then go the route of trying 
to breaking those barriers of previlege...[in truth i cannot say 
'slashing her vagina' to that woman...and should not!!! because ....the 
connotations of an urban middle class women saying that to her would 
cloud the actual issue....]
BUT starting from the same starting point dear r and r, you who hold the 
brief for 'not silencing the subaltern' ....but are accountable to them,  
have to be open to us....if you have to get to the next stage of being 
confident in your role of 'not silencing the subaltern'...
dont leave us left intellectuals and priggish social workers out of your 
middle class bourgious concerns...:)

annapurna
field worker
dastkar andhra
  


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