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
Parents do so much for us..!!
ReplyDeleteA lot of things could be much easier if education was the real concern.
DeleteYou should visit Kolkata to see the serpentine lines in front of the reputed schools at the beginning of each session! And the fees...rocketing upwards. Total commercialization of education.
ReplyDeleteAnd the teachers are paid worse than the sweepers in the railways, forces example.
DeletePathetic!
ReplyDeleteIndeed.
DeleteSad. The most important basic need after food, shelter and health is education. But alas! don't know when will our politicians and society understand it's importance over and above religion.
ReplyDeleteThe guard at the gate was courteous enough to explain to me the importance of security in a school. But I failed to understand why a school that has ample space, numerous buses, and huge building cannot construct a small room for the parents and visitors.
DeleteReally? Why can't such prominent schools do something better for parents?
ReplyDeleteParents are not as important as their money, I guess
DeleteI have also entered this phase with Pihu's admission in a school this year. It is a good business these days :( just kindergarten and fees are in lacs!!
ReplyDeleteAll the best for Pihu. It's going to be an adventure.
DeleteSo, now the parents of the students are a threat to security? The parents pay exorbitant fees for their kids. And the school can't build a parents room!
ReplyDeleteNow-a-days, schools are reluctant to spend money on parents, teachers, or students. Then, where does all the money go?
In the eagerness to get seat in a good school, parents forget or ignore such miseries. We accept too many things without questioning, this is our problem.
DeleteTalk about an educational drive-by!
ReplyDeleteWe abide by concepts a little too literally :)
DeleteYes! That is the USP of our greatness, isn't it? hahahahaha
Delete:) :)
DeletePathetic, disgusting and the lowest low .... sigh, sigh , sigh .
ReplyDeleteCome to schools of Delhi and NCR to learn more about the pathetic condition of education.
DeleteTrue,teachers of many reputed schools are paid very badly.There should be a strict action against such kind of managements.
ReplyDeleteNo action against anybody with money. that's what our PM says :)
DeleteIt's sad and hugs to all the parents all over for securing their children's future with all that they can do.
ReplyDeletehttp://cutesmilealways.blogspot.in/