Madala Panji: Towards Historicizing A Discourse

This Article seeks to illustrate how vernacular histories and rajavamsavalis (royal chronicles) can provide insights into the historical encounters of subaltern societies in South Asia. Conversely, academic or universal histories did not give a platform to represent these particular facets of the lower classes. Academic historians have regarded the legends and myths associated with vamsavalis as ahistorical. However, it is noteworthy that these narratives have significantly contributed to Odisha’s identity politics. This study explores how vernacular histories provide a platform for expressing voices and identities overlooked in academic histories. The emergence of colonial modernism gave rise to academic historiographies primarily centered on state-centric narratives, particularly emphasizing dynastic successions, monarchical reigns, and royal transitions.

In contrast, the vernacular histories of Odisha emphasize various aspects such as structure, language, literature, customs, festivals, cuisine, attire, and the daily routines of individuals. The interrogation of imperial conceptions and the endorsement of cultural history were facilitated by vernacular histories, which documented the culture and incorporated the recollections and narratives of the populace. The vernacular histories challenge academic histories by integrating the people’s and society’s subaltern past.