Alpatov, V. M. Indian Death has the ‘Caste, Gender, Age, Social Status, Political Bias and Tastes’

Abstract: The author of the article provides the analysis of a fundamental book ‘Death in Maharashtra. Imagination, Perception, Embodiment’ (published in Moscow in 2012). The book includes texts of different kind and content and all these texts have the same two topics in common: Maharashtra, one of the major states of India, and death. The author describes differences and similarities between Indian culture and Russian and Western cultures as well as between Indian culture and globalization culture. These differences and similarities show themselves in people’s attitude to death and associated rituals. Particular attention is paid at three main themes discussed in the book: caste (including the ones still exisiting in modern India), women’s position (India has the worst living conditions for women)and terrorism (different opinions on Mohandas Gandhi death is a bright example of Indian alternative to non-violence). It is noted that Russians’ interest for Indian culture (and India in general) experienced its ups (in early XX when orientalism was in fashion and in 1950 when relations between Soviet Union and India were promoted and Indian cinema and literature became popular) and downs (including the present times).

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