POLITICAL UNDERPINNINGS OF THOMAS PAINE?S RIGHTS OF MAN

The French Revolution of 1789 was not simply a social and political ?event? in the history of Europe. It made its impact in the world of words as well. Most strikingly, it was the pamphlet war- or what is often described as the ?Revolution Controversy? (1789-95) - which witnessed it as a favourite theme to be taken up by many thinkers, writers and philosophers. My study of Thomas Paine?s ?Rights of Man? tries to unearth the political dimension(s) of the text. The text in question is very much a part of the ?Revolution controversy? as it does not simply attack Edmund Burke?s conservatism and anti-revolutionary stand, but also champions, quite emphatically, Paine?s political ideas. In fact, Paine can be seen as employing different ?strategies? to serve his end of ?politicizing? and ?mobilizing? the masses in favour of revolution. It is also interesting to see how ?the French Revolution? emerges as a protean term which finds different meanings in the works of different writers.