{"product_id":"aimless-in-banaras-wanderings-in-india-s-holiest-city-bishwanath-ghosh","title":"Aimless in Banaras: Wanderings in India’s Holiest City - Bishwanath Ghosh","description":"\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"6\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"6\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003eA deeply evocative, sensuous portrait of India’s oldest living city and a profound meditation on the messy intersections of life and death. Written by acclaimed journalist and travel writer Bishwanath Ghosh, \u003ci data-path-to-node=\"6\" data-index-in-node=\"208\"\u003eAimless in Banaras\u003c\/i\u003e is an intimate, raw, and unvarnished journey into the soul of Kashi.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"7\"\u003eThe genesis of this book began in a moment of intense personal grief. While standing amid the smoke and ash of the famed Manikarnika Ghat cremating his mother, Bishwanath Ghosh coped with the trauma by pretending he was merely a detached writer collecting structural material for a future project rather than a mourning son. Years later, he returns to the labyrinthine heart of Banaras to actually write that book. Plunging deep into its timeless, chaotic aura, Ghosh aimlessly wanders through its narrow, ancient \u003ci data-path-to-node=\"7\" data-index-in-node=\"514\"\u003egalis\u003c\/i\u003e, sails along the cool breeze of the sacred Ganga, and stands in the blistering heat of the eternal funeral pyres.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"8\"\u003eGhosh finds a brilliant, living narrative around every single bend. One moment he is observing a sadhu showcase extreme physical feats of yogic strength, and the next he is sharing a boat with a young woman whose destiny has been prophesied for seven marriages. He engages in sharp, intellectual debates with the celebrated atheist Hindi writer Kashinath Singh, only to later share tea with a globe-trotting priest and a deeply devout doctor. Engaging with quintessential Banarasis—their \u003ci data-path-to-node=\"8\" data-index-in-node=\"488\"\u003epaan\u003c\/i\u003e-stuffed mouths spouting sharp expletives and profound spiritual wisdom with equal flair—Ghosh captures a city of intense contradictions and discovers why its inhabitants are considered among the happiest, most content people on earth. Beautifully written, this travelogue is an essential read for anyone captivated by Indian spirituality, geography, and rich narrative non-fiction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 data-path-to-node=\"9\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"9\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003eWhy This Evocative Travel Narrative Belongs on Your Shelf:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul data-path-to-node=\"10\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"10,0,0\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"10,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003eUnvarnished Literary Journalism:\u003c\/b\u003e Written by a veteran Associate Editor of \u003ci data-path-to-node=\"10,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"74\"\u003eThe Hindu\u003c\/i\u003e, bringing an incredibly sharp, observant, and respectful eye to the complexities of Varanasi.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"10,1,0\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"10,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003eDeeply Personal and Philosophical:\u003c\/b\u003e Blends raw human memoir with cultural exploration, handling the heavy concepts of mortality, grief, and spiritual acceptance with incredible poise.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"10,2,0\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"10,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003eRich Tapestry of Local Characters:\u003c\/b\u003e Shines a bright spotlight on the true eccentrics, scholars, boatmen, and ascetics who give Banaras its unique, pulsating life force.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"BEETLE BOOK SHOP","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52407278731547,"sku":null,"price":424.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/2150\/0699\/files\/81g7teTutsL._SL1500.jpg?v=1782553857","url":"https:\/\/beetlebookshop.com\/kn\/products\/aimless-in-banaras-wanderings-in-india-s-holiest-city-bishwanath-ghosh","provider":"Beetle Book Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}