The Final Farewell: Understanding the Last Rites and Rituals of India’s Major Faiths, by Minakshi Dewan

HarperCollins

presents

An enlightening new book that explores the many ways in which some of the country’s major faiths treat the dead

The Final Farewell

by Minakshi Dewan

PB | Non-fiction | 312 pp | Rs 499

Based on thorough research and written with compassion and sensitivity, The Final Farewell provides a deep understanding of the last rites and rituals of India’s major faiths.

The author Minakshi Dewan is a researcher and writer, with extensive experience in health, gender, and community mobilization. Her writings have appeared in several Indian and international publications.

Releasing on 26^th October 2023

 

Author Minakshi Dewan says, “The Final Farewell: Understanding the Last Rites and Rituals of India’s Major Faiths is a book based on enormous research. It was prompted by a personal experience as a chief mourner during my father’s last rites. The book demystifies end-of-life rituals while delving deeper into the meanings and interpretations through my insightful conversations with many actors involved in the last journey. So much of what was said has culminated in the many narratives I present in the book. This is my first book, and I am extremely proud of it. I am grateful to HarperCollins for seeing the potential in this idea. I hope the compassion and care I put into writing this book resonates with the readers.”

Prerna Gill, commissioning editor, HarperCollins India, says, “An important book written with deep understanding and sensitivity, and drawing from the experiences of those who know so much about loss and the many ways in which we say that most difficult goodbye.”

ABOUT THE BOOK

What are the beliefs associated with death in India? How do final rites and rituals reveal the misogyny and caste-based discrimination that plague the country? Who are the people involved in managing the deceased and laying them to rest? What are the economic and environmental costs of saying that final goodbye? Powerful and enlightening, The Final Farewell offers a glimpse into a world that is misunderstood and feared.

With compassion and sensitivity, Minakshi Dewan explores the many ways in which some of the country’s major faiths treat the dead: from avoidance of human remains, believed by some to be spiritual pollutants, to the worship of bodies at the pyre; from professional mourners hired to wail loudly for the dead to musicians devoted to celebrating life at funerals.

Based on thorough research, keen observation and personal interviews, The Final Farewell is a reminder to honour those who came before us, and to work towards a better world to leave behind.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Minakshi Dewan is a researcher and writer with a PhD degree in social medicine and community health from Jawaharlal Nehru University and masters in social work from TISS Mumbai. She possesses extensive experience in health, gender, and community mobilization with grassroots and international development organizations. She has contributed chapters in academic publications on tribal health and healing rituals. Her writings have appeared in several Indian and international publications, like the Deccan Herald, The Telegraph, and Devex, among others. She has also written a non-fiction title for children. This is her debut book with HarperCollins.

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For reviews, excerpts, interviews and more information, please contact Shivendra Singh at shivendra.singh@harpercollins.co.in