Emran Emon

Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak’s recent recognition as the winner of the Holberg Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in the humanities and social sciences, reaffirms the importance of postcolonial theory in today’s world. Spivak, a scholar whose works challenge the very structures of knowledge production, has consistently provided a voice for the subaltern—the marginalized, the silenced, and the forgotten. Her groundbreaking work, “Can the Subaltern Speak?” (1988), remains a defining text in postcolonial studies, interrogating whether those outside the dominant systems of power can truly articulate their own experiences without being filtered through elite frameworks.

This Holberg Prize is not just an award for Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak but a recognition of the intellectual movements she represents—postcolonial studies, feminist critique, and deconstruction. At a time when globalization continues to deepen economic and cultural inequalities, her work is more relevant than ever. Spivak’s intellectual rigor, activism, and pedagogical commitment push us to rethink how knowledge is created, who gets to speak, and how we can foster an inclusive, decolonized academic and political landscape.

The Holberg Prize, established by the Norwegian Parliament in 2003, honors scholars who have significantly influenced the fields of arts, humanities, law, theology, and social sciences. Spivak’s win is remarkable because it brings postcolonial thought to the forefront at a time when the world is grappling with issues of migration, racial justice, and the legacies of colonialism. Her selection emphasizes the necessity of revisiting historical injustices and ensuring that contemporary knowledge production does not replicate colonial power structures.

Spivak’s work goes beyond academia—she is also an activist and educator. Her engagement with rural education projects in India exemplifies her belief that theory should not remain within the confines of elite institutions. She has spent decades working with teachers in underprivileged regions, emphasizing literacy, critical thinking, and self-empowerment. In awarding Spivak the Holberg Prize, the selection committee acknowledges not just her intellectual contributions but also her commitment to social justice.

One of Spivak’s central arguments is that knowledge is never neutral. It is shaped by historical power dynamics, often privileging Western perspectives while marginalizing voices from the Global South. Her engagement with deconstruction, influenced by Jacques Derrida, has helped expose the biases embedded in academic and cultural institutions. She critiques how Western scholars often appropriate non-Western experiences without allowing subaltern subjects to represent themselves.

For instance, in “Can the Subaltern Speak?”, Spivak critiques the way European intellectuals construct the image of the oppressed woman in the Global South—particularly in colonial and postcolonial contexts. She portrays how elite discourse often frames the subaltern in ways that serve external agendas rather than reflecting their lived realities. This argument has far-reaching implications, especially in discussions about women’s rights, indigenous struggles, and the politics of representation.

Her call for epistemic decolonization—challenging the way knowledge is produced and circulated—resonates strongly today. Universities across the world are reassessing their curricula, acknowledging the need to integrate non-Western perspectives into philosophy, literature, and history. Spivak’s influence in this movement cannot be overstated.

Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak’s critiques extend beyond colonialism to examine how neoliberalism exacerbates global inequalities. In her book “A Critique of Postcolonial Reason (1999)”, she argues that capitalism continues the colonial logic of exploitation, disguising itself as development and progress. She warns against the dangers of globalized capital, which often widens the gap between the powerful and the powerless.

Neoliberal policies, she argues, prioritize profit over people, erasing indigenous knowledge systems, cultural identities, and local economies in favor of homogenized global markets. The subaltern, already marginalized by history, is further silenced in this economic structure. Her insights are crucial for contemporary debates on sustainable development, climate justice, and fair trade.

At the same time, Spivak remains critical of simplistic identity politics. She warns against reducing postcolonial studies to a mere celebration of diversity without addressing deeper structural inequalities. Her method is always self-reflexive, urging scholars and activists to examine their own complicity in the systems they critique.

The Holberg Prize recognizes Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak not just for past achievements but for the continuing relevance of her work. She has mentored generations of scholars, activists, and educators, encouraging them to approach knowledge with rigor, humility, and political responsibility. Her advocacy for critical literacy—teaching students how to read and analyze texts beyond surface meanings—has influenced pedagogical methods worldwide. In an age of misinformation and digital manipulation, Spivak’s insistence on deep reading and intellectual discipline is more vital than ever.

Moreover, her work challenges us to think beyond binaries—East and West, colonizer and colonized, elite and subaltern. She urges us to listen actively to marginalized voices rather than imposing our interpretations on them. This approach is crucial not only in academia but also in policymaking, journalism, and activism.

Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak’s Holberg Prize is a victory for critical thought, decolonial scholarship, and activism. Her contributions remind us that true intellectual work is never detached from social realities—it must engage, critique, and strive for justice. In a world where the subaltern still struggles to speak, Spivak’s voice continues to be a powerful force for transformation. Her work challenges the way we think about power, representation, and knowledge.

By recognizing Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, the Holberg Prize committee has affirmed that postcolonial studies remain as urgent and necessary as ever. As she wrote at the end of her essay Can the Subaltern Speak?: “The subaltern cannot speak. There is no virtue in global laundry lists with ‘woman’ as a pious item. Representation has not withered away. The female intellectual as intellectual has a circumscribed task which she must not disown with a flourish.” As we celebrate Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak’s achievement, we must also take up her challenge: to critically examine our own positions, listen to the voices of the marginalized, and work towards a more just and equitable world.

The writer is a researcher, journalist and columnist.