Decolonising Sovereignty and Reimagining Autonomy Adivasi Assertions and Interpretations of Law

• Published in: Decolonising Political Concepts Vol. 1; pp. 133 - 152
• Main Authors: Saxena, Astha, Chitkara, Radhika
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Routledge 2024
• Edition: 1
• Subjects: autonomy; resource rights; sovereignty; indigenous peoples rights; self-determination; Adivasi
• ISBN: 1032275979; 9781032275970; 103227591X; 9781032275918
• DOI: 10.4324/9781003293460-11

This chapter unpacks the idea of autonomy in the Indian context and examines its relationship with state sovereignty - the differences in their forms of power and manner of assertions. The Forest Rights Act of 2006 is a paradigm-shifting legislation of postcolonial India that seeks to undo the historical injustices of the past, particularly of the colonial period when forest communities were alienated from their lands. In this context, the chapter attempts to decolonise sovereignty in order to break the distinction created between it and autonomy. Adivasi and forest-dwelling communities of India have had a historical relationship with forests and land, their identity and existence are tied to it. For them, material alienation, such as the loss of forest, is equivalent to a complete loss of existence. In the current emerging trends of neoliberalism where land alienation has gained new meanings and processes, this chapter assesses the emergence of the Pathalgarhi movement which is an assertion of the communities to retain their identity.