The Mahatma and the Subaltern

The Mahatma, often referring to Mahatma Gandhi, symbolizes a moral and spiritual leader who led India’s independence movement through nonviolent resistance and moral authority. The Subaltern refers to marginalized groups—such as peasants, workers, and colonized peoples—whose voices are often silenced or overlooked within dominant political and social discourses. In academic contexts, the term highlights the need to understand history and power from their perspective, emphasizing how subaltern groups experience oppression and resistance. Together, these concepts explore how spiritual leadership (the Mahatma) can inspire or influence marginalized populations (the Subaltern) to challenge injustice.