A similar all – inclusive standpoint is taken with respect to the concept of the peasantry as a class. Rosebery (1983:74-75) pleads for a more inclusive notion of class to include not just production relations but also “ the feeling of community. He contends that Marx did not see class in the mechanical way that many Marxists do” and that the formation of a feeling of community … was basic to marx definition of a class “ . to support this Roseberry quotes Marx s famous passage on small peasant
Hobsbawm (1998:198-199) similarly characterizes “ traditional peasants “ as having “ a much higher degree of formal or informal … collectivity” and that “ it would be difficult to conceive of a “ traditional “ peasantry … without this collective element” furthermore, in a historical sense, for Hobsbawin, the peasant is not just a class “ in itself” but also exhibits the traits of a class “ for itself”: that had formed the greater part of humanity for the greater part of history and who were aware of their distinction from, and almost their subalternity to, their oppression by, the minorities of non – peasants, whom they did not like or trust
While the peasantry may be a class of low classless “ and that ‘ peasant consciousness ‘is somewhat “vague, Hobsbawm nevertherless argues that having “ the same kind of relation to the means of production as well as other common economic and social chracterisitcs” fullfil the function of evoking recognition and solidarity (preasanbt consciousness ) among peasants that transcends “ regiions, dialects, costumes, and customs” and “Specific geographical limits” there is mutual recognition by peasants of the similarity of their relation to nature, to production, and to non peasants” HOBSBAWM 1998 : 2002
“ Class” can also be taken in a political sense as when peasants are drive by their common interests during crisis situations to engage In struggles with ‘ capitalist landowners, various groups of capital – related townsmen, and the state “ (SHANIN 1987B: 357)” No matter that these are often characterized by “Inescapable fragmentation … into small local segments ‘ and the diversity and vagueness of their political aims ‘ both of which serve to undermine their political impact.
A final point is on the myriad scope of activities (behold soil cultivation and food production) that peasant household –based socialites are engaged in. Elson (1997) Enumerates these various other economic activities: fishing, animal husbandry, vegetable farming, tree planting, weaving and dyeing, commerce and trade, carpentry, metal craft and tool making, salt making,, woodcarving, mining and iron smelting, and hunting and foraging . in the colonial and post colonial periods, the following developed : boat building , industrial rice and saw milling, brick , tile, and lime manufacturing, tailoring, transport business, and various types of off-farm employment ( including full or part time work in urban areas as well as overseas contract labour)
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