Labors of Division: The Emergence of the Peasant in Colonial Panjab by Navyug Gill is a sharply argued historical study of how the idea of the “peasant” took shape in colonial Punjab. It traces the social, political, and economic forces that reshaped rural life under empire, revealing how labor, land, and power were redefined in the process.
Thoughtful and richly researched, this book will appeal to readers interested in South Asian history, agrarian society, colonial rule, and the making of modern identities. Gill’s work offers a nuanced perspective on rural class formation and the lasting impact of colonial categories on everyday life.
