{"product_id":"bhang-journeys","title":"Bhang Journeys","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIlluminate the fascinating, lesser-known subcultures of cannabis consumers and cultivators in India with \u003ci\u003eBhang Journeys\u003c\/i\u003e by Akshaya Bahibala!\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Book:\u003c\/b\u003e \u003ci\u003e“Bhang Journeys illuminates a subculture of drug consumers and cultivators in India. Sincere and gripping, this [is a] genre-bending book … of lesser-known stories that are all powered by cannabis.”\u003c\/i\u003e—\u003ci\u003eAsian Review of Books\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a decade—from 1998 to 2008—author Akshaya Bahibala lived in the grip of cannabis, smoking ganja and drinking bhang while experiencing the highs and lows of life among hippies, backpackers, and dropouts on the beaches of Puri. After pulling back from the edge and rebuilding his life as a worker, salesman, and bookseller, Bahibala penned this extraordinary, genre-bending book. Starting with fragmented memories of his lost decade, he travels across Odisha to capture the vivid, untold stories of people whose lives revolve around intoxicants: a proud government-approved bhang shop owner who believes his product inspires Christ-like forgiveness; an opium-cutter who crafts tiny tablets with mustard oil; villagers clashing with excise officers; and a ganja farmer arriving in the forests via helicopter. Interspersed with official UN reports, seizure statistics, and traditional recipes for bhang laddoos and sharbat, \u003ci\u003eBhang Journeys\u003c\/i\u003e is a surprising, entertaining, and deeply human mix of celebration and caution.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cb\u003eKey Features \u0026amp; Benefits:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eUnique Genre-Bending Narrative:\u003c\/b\u003e Combines gripping memoir elements with investigative storytelling, cultural history, and reportage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFascinating Regional Insights:\u003c\/b\u003e Explores the hidden subcultures, farming practices, and everyday lives surrounding cannabis and opium in Odisha.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eExtra Extras:\u003c\/b\u003e Features historical data, UN medical property reports, and authentic traditional recipes for bhang treats.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Perfect Gift:\u003c\/b\u003e An engaging, thought-provoking present for readers of non-fiction, cultural anthropology, alternative memoirs, and Indian literature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"BEETLE BOOK SHOP","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52736940671259,"sku":null,"price":424.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/2150\/0699\/files\/91BS-kH3W_L._SL1500.jpg?v=1785994843","url":"https:\/\/beetlebookshop.com\/products\/bhang-journeys","provider":"Beetle Book Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}