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‘Fractured Communities’ by Umar Khalid: Scholarship Meets Commitment to Marginalised Lives

by Anand Teltumbde

Published 2026-07-19 02:00:00+00:00

How did the state turn local village leaders into the tools for ruling the forest?

0:00 / 9:35 · Narrator Charon

Context

A map of Singhbhum district in Jharkhand shows deep forests and rich mines, marking a region where the fight for land rights never quite ended. Writing on 19 July 2026, the reviewer follows a history written by Umar Khalid during his years in prison. The book moves past the idea of tribal communities as isolated groups living outside of history. It shows how colonial rulers turned local village leaders into tools of the state, a pattern that still shapes the messy struggle for resources.

Show notes

An examination of Umar Khalid’s research into the Adivasi communities of Singhbhum and their relationship with state power over the last two centuries. The study traces how colonial officials turned local tribal leaders into government agents to maintain control rather than replacing existing systems. These historical findings are used to explain modern conflicts over land, mining, and legal protections in Jharkhand.

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