The Intimate Enemy: Loss and Recovery of Self Under Colonialism [Paperback]

Ashis Nandy (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0195622375 | ISBN-13: 978-0195622379 | Publication Date: March 9, 1989

This study contends that modern colonialism is successful not only because the ruling country subjugates through superior technical and economic resources, but also because the rulers propagate cultural subservience of the subject people. Exploring the myths, fantasies and psychological defenses that went into the colonial culture, particularly the polarities that shaped the colonial theory of progress, Nandy describes the Indian experience and shows how the Indians broke with traditional norms of Western culture to protect their vision of an alternative future.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Provocative--utterly absorbing."--Journal of Asian Studies

About the Author

Ashis Nandy is at Smithsonian Institution, Washington.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (March 9, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195622375
• ISBN-13: 978-0195622379
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #756,760 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly inspiring., January 4, 2011

By 

Ross - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Intimate Enemy: Loss and Recovery of Self Under Colonialism (Oxford India Paperbacks) (Paperback)

Ashis Nandy provokes self-reflection from the reader, where you realize you, yourself, withhold certain aspects of the enemy whom you abhor. He provides interesting insight with regards to transcending the dichotomy between the colonizer and the colonized. The Intimate Enemy is truly magnificent.

5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very very interesting, August 13, 2007

By 

Gabrielle Durana "GD" (San Francisco. CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Intimate Enemy: Loss and Recovery of Self Under Colonialism (Paperback)

This book cannot be read fast. I first heard of this philosopher on the French Cultural Radio in a program on Islam in India. If you know about Franz Fanon and other psycho-sociologists like Erik Fromm etc but you don't know about the consequences of colonization in the Sub-continent, this book is for you.