Living without the Dead: Loss and Redemption in a Jungle Cosmos - Beetle Book Shop

Living without the Dead: Loss and Redemption in a Jungle Cosmos

Rs. 679.00
Rs. 679.00 Rs. 799.00
Skip to product information
Living without the Dead: Loss and Redemption in a Jungle Cosmos - Beetle Book Shop
  • Living without the Dead: Loss and Redemption in a Jungle Cosmos - Beetle Book Shop
  • Living without the Dead: Loss and Redemption in a Jungle Cosmos - Beetle Book Shop
Living without the Dead: Loss and Redemption in a Jungle Cosmos

Living without the Dead: Loss and Redemption in a Jungle Cosmos

Rs. 679.00
Rs. 679.00 Rs. 799.00

Vendor : BEETLE BOOK SHOP
| SHORTLISTED FOR THE KAMALADEVI CHATTOPADHYAY NEW INDIA FOUNDATION BOOK PRIZE 2019 | Praise for the book:'This truly magnificent text is a living monument to the strength and elegance of true ethnographic work.'--Choice 'This is an extraordinary book in two senses: it is an outstanding work of scholarship, and it is a highly original, unconventional piece of writing... It moved me as much as anything I have read in a literary work of recent years. Living without the Dead is a masterly feat of writing and of the ethnographic imagination.'--American Ethnologist'Living without the Dead remains a monumental, impressive, and insightful work of ethnography, one that could only be produced by an ethnographer of Vitebsky's evident skill, self-awareness, and endurance.'--International Journal of Hindu Studies'[Vitebsky] takes us to a world most people don't know existed, and whose defeat readers will mourn deeply.'--Nandini Sundar, Delhi University'A haunting and elegiac exploration of attitudes to dying, death and grieving among the Sora of Odisha.'--Dilip Menon, University of Witwatersrand| SHORTLISTED FOR THE KAMALADEVI CHATTOPADHYAY NEW INDIA FOUNDATION BOOK PRIZE 2019 | Just one generation ago, the Sora tribe in India lived in a world populated by the spirits of their dead, who spoke to them through shamans in trance. Every day, they negotiated their wellbeing in heated arguments or in quiet reflections on their feelings of love, anger, and guilt. Today, young Sora are rejecting the worldview of their ancestors and switching their allegiance to sects of Christianity or Hinduism. Sacred sites are being demolished, female shamans are being replaced by male priests, and debate with the dead is giving way to prayer to gods. For some, this shift means liberation from jungle spirits through literacy, employment, and democratic politics; others despair for fear of being forgotten after death. How can a society abandon one understanding of reality so suddenly and replace it with another? Over forty years, anthropologist Piers Vitebsky has shared the lives of shamans, pastors, ancestors, gods, policemen, missionaries, and alphabet worshippers, while drawing inspiration from social theory, psychoanalysis, and theology. Living without the Dead lays bare today's crisis of indigenous religions and shows how historical reform can bring new fulfillments - but also new torments and uncertainties. Vitebsky explores the loss of the Sora tradition as one for greater humanity: just as we have been losing our wildernesses, so we have been losing cultural and spiritual possibilities, tribe by tribe. From the award-winning author of The Reindeer People, this is a heartbreaking story of the extinction of an irreplaceable world, even while new religious forms come into being.

Additional Information
Description
| SHORTLISTED FOR THE KAMALADEVI CHATTOPADHYAY NEW INDIA FOUNDATION BOOK PRIZE 2019 | Praise for the book:'This truly magnificent text is a living monument to the strength and elegance of true ethnographic work.'--Choice 'This is an extraordinary book in two senses: it is an outstanding work of scholarship, and it is a highly original, unconventional piece of writing... It moved me as much as anything I have read in a literary work of recent years. Living without the Dead is a masterly feat of writing and of the ethnographic imagination.'--American Ethnologist'Living without the Dead remains a monumental, impressive, and insightful work of ethnography, one that could only be produced by an ethnographer of Vitebsky's evident skill, self-awareness, and endurance.'--International Journal of Hindu Studies'[Vitebsky] takes us to a world most people don't know existed, and whose defeat readers will mourn deeply.'--Nandini Sundar, Delhi University'A haunting and elegiac exploration of attitudes to dying, death and grieving among the Sora of Odisha.'--Dilip Menon, University of Witwatersrand| SHORTLISTED FOR THE KAMALADEVI CHATTOPADHYAY NEW INDIA FOUNDATION BOOK PRIZE 2019 | Just one generation ago, the Sora tribe in India lived in a world populated by the spirits of their dead, who spoke to them through shamans in trance. Every day, they negotiated their wellbeing in heated arguments or in quiet reflections on their feelings of love, anger, and guilt. Today, young Sora are rejecting the worldview of their ancestors and switching their allegiance to sects of Christianity or Hinduism. Sacred sites are being demolished, female shamans are being replaced by male priests, and debate with the dead is giving way to prayer to gods. For some, this shift means liberation from jungle spirits through literacy, employment, and democratic politics; others despair for fear of being forgotten after death. How can a society abandon one understanding of reality so suddenly and replace it with another? Over forty years, anthropologist Piers Vitebsky has shared the lives of shamans, pastors, ancestors, gods, policemen, missionaries, and alphabet worshippers, while drawing inspiration from social theory, psychoanalysis, and theology. Living without the Dead lays bare today's crisis of indigenous religions and shows how historical reform can bring new fulfillments - but also new torments and uncertainties. Vitebsky explores the loss of the Sora tradition as one for greater humanity: just as we have been losing our wildernesses, so we have been losing cultural and spiritual possibilities, tribe by tribe. From the award-winning author of The Reindeer People, this is a heartbreaking story of the extinction of an irreplaceable world, even while new religious forms come into being.
Shipping Policy
Shipping Policy

Our shipping policy is designed to ensure fast and reliable delivery services for all our customers. We strive to provide efficient shipping solutions that meet your needs and guarantee timely delivery of your orders. Rest assured that we have established clear shipping terms and conditions to make your shopping experience seamless and hassle-free.

Delivery Terms

Our delivery terms are simple and transparent, outlining everything you need to know about our shipping process. We offer various delivery options to cater to your preferences and requirements. From standard shipping to expedited delivery, we have you covered. We are committed to delivering your orders promptly and with the utmost care.

Shipping Information

For detailed shipping information, please refer to our shipping page, where you can find all the necessary details about our delivery services. This includes shipping rates, estimated delivery times, and any other pertinent information. We aim to provide you with up-to-date shipping information to help you track your orders and ensure a smooth delivery process.

You may also like