Book Review “ Death ends life, not a relationship ,” as Mitch Albom put it. That is why, we have so many rituals associated with death. Minakshi Dewan’s book, The Final Farewell [HarperCollins, 2023], is a well-researched book about those rituals. The book starts with an elaborate description of the Sikh rituals associated with death and cremation, before moving on to Islam, Zoroastrianism, Christianity, and finally Hinduism. After that, it’s all about the various traditions and related details of Hindu final rites. A few chapters are dedicated to the problems of widows in India, gender discrimination in the last rites, and the problem of unclaimed dead bodies. There is a chapter titled ‘Grieving Widows in Hindi Cinema’ too. Death and its rituals form an unusual theme for a book. Frankly, I don’t find the topic stimulating in any way. Obviously, I didn’t buy this book. It came to me as quite many other books do – for reasons of their own. I read the book finally, having shelv
Great message!
ReplyDeleteMay we all get new light!
Happy Diwali!
Thanks, Anita, and wish you and all your dearest ones the joys and blessings of Diwali.
DeleteNice message conveyed...Happy Diwali to you too.. :-)
ReplyDeleteIt came from some frustration, in fact, Mani. Wish you too a very enlightening Diwali.
DeleteI wish I find the new light before I die. Happy Diwali. :)
ReplyDeleteYou will, Namrata, I assure you. Take it as a prophecy from me. It may not be in the form of a political leader or any person from outside you!
DeleteWish you Happy Deepavali.
ReplyDeleteMost happy to receive your greetings, Rajesh, and happier still to extend the same wishes to you.
DeleteA very happy Diwali to you and your family !
ReplyDeleteThank you Paresh. Let us wish you and family too on this occasion.
DeleteSimple and thought provoking.. Happy diwali!
ReplyDeleteHappy Diwali to you too. I have extended the thought in a new post. Most welcome.
DeleteHappy Diwali to you and your family!
ReplyDeleteHeartiest greetings to you too.
DeleteWish you very very HAPPY DIWALI..............
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Thank you and may you have a very enlightening Diwali too.
DeleteWishing a very happy Diwali to you and your family :) :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Deepa. Wish you and family too the blessings of Diwali.
DeleteDear Sir
ReplyDeleteHappy Diwali wishes to you. Sir just now first time i saw your blog and due to this reason today i gave this comment for your Diwali post.
Sir please look into my Lamps of India message which i shared in my Heritage of India blog and give your comments.
http://indian-heritage-and-culture.blogspot.in/2013/09/lamps-of-india.html