"The combination of Guha's eloquent narration, his command of the literature on social movements, and his skillful extraction of significant details from a rich source of raw materials make this book one of the decade's most important contributions to the social history of the environment. . . . An uncommon story written in an uncommonly eloquent manner. It is bound to become a classic."—American Ethnologist

"An exceptional piece of research for it successfully intertwines the cognizance of traditional peasant movements with the newly emerging awareness of the ecological movement. . . . Through a skillfully applied methodology and lucid language, Guha demonstrates that ecological issues are so linked with the basic survival issues of village life that the two cannot be separated. At the heart of both movements--peasant and ecological--is the same quest for moral economy."—Annals of the American Academy

"Fascinating reading. Guha is to be commended for his effort which constitutes a significant illustration of the insights which the trained historian and sociologist can offer in the examination of a contemporary social movement."—Indian Express Magazine