About the Book: Prachi Deshpande’s Creative Pasts explores how the Maratha era—between the 17th and 18th centuries—is woven into the fabric of modern Maharashtra’s identity. Focusing on the role of this defining period in shaping anticolonial and non-Brahman political movements, the book examines how this historical memory has been reproduced through literature, public discourse, and regional symbolism. Drawing on an impressive array of sources, including literary and cultural materials, Deshpande analyzes how history writing and popular memory intersect to forge regional, religious, and national identities. The study demonstrates how colonial and post-colonial power dynamics influenced these narratives, highlighting the interplay of culture, power, and rhetoric in constructing modernity in western India. Ultimately, the book offers a nuanced understanding of how collective memory acts as both a political tool and a source of regional consciousness.
