Maia Ramnath - Decolonizing Anarchism.pdf - Libcom

226 I Ramnath
One of the first sustained analytic alternatives to the
traditional Left approach came from the members of the
Lokayan ("dialogue of the people") group, founded by
Rajni Kothari and D. L. Sheth in 1980."' Lokayan's stated
mission was to create a nonvanguardist "action-research
project" that sponsored dialogues and workshops among
intellectuals and activists on topics covering the gamut of
new social movement concerns, including Dalit and tribal
struggles, gender, ecology, communalism, and civil rights.
The goal was
to evolve a systematic critique of the established
models of development and the state, and also to
promote political action drawing upon the large
variety of micro-initiatives that arc engaged in the
struggle for a just society .... [T Jo build a body of
knowledge, opinion and concrete strategies of intervention
at the "macro" level that will promote a
decentralised democratic order and enhance respect
for the cultural and social diversity of marginalised
sections of society . .. [thus 1 helping to unify th"
various movements for egalitarian change.2s
The prolific writings of its key members, in the
Lokayan Bulletin and other publications, made "the overall
Lokayan perspective almost hegemonic in the wider circles
of those who were attracted to the new movements and the
issues they raised."26 But they ultimately stopped short of
advocating a true alternative, turning back toward a reformation
ofthe structures they were critiquing. (Lokayan's