professor cohen may be the most brilliant anthropologist of our time as it pertains to south asia. this book is a sparkling example of a prodigious mind at work. it is both scholarly and playful; rigorous and light-hearted. may be read for both pleasure and for what it can teach us about all manner of things. may be the beat scholarly work i have ever read. first-rate.

Brilliant ethnographic research fused with engaging narrative that makes for truly enjoyable reading. Cohen dissects the phenomenon of an aging population and their role in culture and society, while explaining the greater implications both for policy and popular opinion, with reflections on US and Western societies.

I read this book over a year ago, so I don't remember every detail. However...

You know how people say that women do not have a voice in male dominated societies, and one goal of feminism is to foster new voices for women, so that we may express ourselves and have a tradition of our own? Well, the idea in this book is that the women that these authors worked with do have a voice of their own. It may be subversive in their societies, it may often have to work through riddles, but it is there, and well-developed. And highly expressive.

The authors make the argument that in the study of gender relations, the subversive women's voices are assumed not to exist while in this case, they are present. If you're involved in gender studies and Indian Studies, this is a fine book and one which ought to be read frequently.

But even for someone not involved in these subject areas, these are clever women with entertaining songs and stories--I refer to both the authors and the Indian women here--which anyone can find wisdom in.

I have read may be three books by Francis Robinson and this one again proves that he has a keen eye for details. He has not only beautifully investigated the reasons behind sepratism in indian muslims (which ultimately led to creation of Pakistan) but also given intricate details of internal conflict between mullahs, conservatives and modernists , a conflict that is still alive. Well done Francis Robinson!!!

btw i was thrilled to find some of my relatives mentioned in the book.

a competent and thorough survey of the field. an ideal, well researched book and a good introduction to the subject.

The Romantics is a tale of a young Indian man who goes to live in the holy city of Benares, and the journey of self discovery that he embarks on there. Throughout the story, we follow him through the violent purliue of the city's university all the way to Kalpi, a town at the foothills of the Himilayas. Overall, I really enjoyed this novel, but the reason why I gave it four stars as opposed to five is that I'm somewhat at a loss as to why I liked it so much. You see, if I were a writer and came up with this plot, I doubt that I would write a novel about it. The strength of the book lies not in a compelling, action packed plot, but rather in Mishra's poetic prose. The book is a joy to read, and the characters are quite memorable, but, again, the plot is, well, odd, I supose. The story is basically a chronicle of an Indian man's life for several years, without any momentous climax or intrigue at all. Yet despite this, I repeat that I really liked reading it. I've now decided to read some similar literature, as The Romantics is the first novel of this genre that I have read before, as I tend to gravitate to books like Atlas Shrugged or adventurous things, like Clancy books. On the whole, though, I recomend this book heartily.

There are four things to know about "The Romantics" if you're planning on reading the 300-odd pages: First, if you don't like the first 50, stop right there. The story is one of a young Brahmin studying in the holy city of Benares, India. He encounters Europeans who are on journeys of discovery themselves, and the majority of the novel is made up of his experiences amongst them, his inner conflicts as their cultures collide. But do not expect outrageous differences, complex characters or even a real plot. The book is simply the mental journey of this Brahmin student; introverted, intelligent, young and on the whole, pretty passive. The second thing to know is about Mishra's style -- which is so beautiful, it keeps you reading despite the lack of any major events. Mishra articulates thoughts, travels and confusion simply and sincerely, which makes the main character very realistic. If you don't like his writing, put the book down right away. The plot certainly won't change your mind about the novel! All four stars are on the basis on Mishra's prose and eye for psychological detail in his protagonist. Third, don't expect epiphany, but stay tuned for closure. The last part of the book seems like a frail attempt at tying up loose ends, almost like an epilogue that ran too long. And finally, don't read it on vacation. Mishra's novel left me wondering what happens to people whose lives are not directed by some great force, some eternal longing or blessed talent. They appear to wander aimlessly and alone. Not one of the relationships--romantic or not--is stable or fulfilling. Each one of us is an island, surrounded by uncertainties, absorbed in our domestic, internal affairs, trying to figure out our relations to the world outside. Perhaps that is true. But is certainly is not romantic.

This book amazed me. I was saddened to read that other reviewers found it boring, and I can only surmise that they read through it too quickly, expecting to find a dramatic plot trajectory. Mishra is a gifted writer and subtlety seems to be his forte. He's writing about ideas, not events.
I am not Indian, and I have never been to India. So perhaps it is true that I have only fallen under the spell of the Mythical East, fooled by a packaged product designed to appeal to Westerners. I must say, however, it is rather cynical to suggest that Mishra, who lives in India, labored over this work so that it would sell on the Western publishing market. The writing quality is too high for that. Furthermore, even if the descriptions of India are somewhat stereotypical, the contrasting notions of eastern and western philosophies on life and the pursuit of happiness were intriguing. Do we in the west place to high a premium on our own fulfillment? Some of the western characters (particularly Americans) come across looking like charicatures, and rightly so.
Its an interesting study in the perspective we have on the courses our lives are expected to take, and how our interactions with others inevitable changes these perspectives.
For anyone fed up with Rushie's magic realism and looking for more palatable Indian literature, please do read this book.

This is a dreadful book, no story, no dialog. There are so many adjectives that you can use it as a theasuras. The author wasn't interested in telling a story, his main goal is to show off --whatever it is.

This was one of the best novels I've read within recent memory. For anyone interested in India, this novel will stimulate you intellectually and recall for you the sights, sounds and smells of India. The structure of the novel is fascinatingly postmodern and the writing is itself lush and literate. There is much to think about as the author examines the allure of horror and the macabre within story telling.

I had the misfortune of reading this book and I can safely say that I will never touch another Paul Mann book again.

The book is very poorly researched; the author's knowledge of India seems to be limited to tourist visits and stereotypes (to which he is successfully adding). He does not know the the difference between male and female Indian names, gives Muslim names to Hindu characters, has absolutely no idea of the of the Indian Police or security setup and if you have to believe him you would expect Indians always speak in the present-continuous tense. The plot is rather thin(in fact there is no plot), and the reader has no idea of how the events unfolded. It is a rather juvenile attempt to show the contradictions of modern and traditional India, and only shows the author's poor understanding of both.

The scenes depicted are rather ludicrous, the characters half-formed, situations exgagerated, at times it is an attempt to pepertuate falsehood. Only a person who has no knowledge od India and prefers to believe in the hackneyed stereotypes would enjoy this book. I am really surprised that a publisher such as Random House agreed to publish this ignorant and shallow book, which really deserves zero stars.

Paul Mann has apparently found a niche writing mysteries set in India. Alas, the idea appears to be better than the books. The Burning Ghats opens with a lethal phosphorus spill that pours down a sacred river and kills hundreds of pilgrims. It's a striking image and one that leads the reader to expect a good mystery. Alas, this book is inconsistent and sometimes downright bad.

While Mann sometimes provides carefully woven descriptions of various Indian settings, this book often seems overwritten. One scene of a press conference is particularly tedious, with the crowd compared to waves and raindrops. Also, several characters appear midway and receive a lot of ink before disappearing from the pages well before the end of the book. One character in particular, an American businessman, seems only to exist so that a racy sexual encounter can be described. The Indian characters do not fair much better, with graft and deceit being common themes. Another character, the son of a ruthless tycoon, is said to be follower of a radical cleric; yet nothing more is ever mentioned of his extreme religious views. Instead, he winds up being one of the only generous characters in the novel.

So is the real India a land of excess, corruption, and misery? As a westerner, I can't say with certainty, but I believe India is not so simple. I think mystery fans can do a lot better than this book. It is hard to recommend it, although I have read worse.

This is the third of Paul Mann's George Sansi Mysteries. As a frequent visitor to India, I find these books about the underside of modern Indian society absolutely fascinating. Mann leads the reader into the crevices of Indian life whether the drug scene, Bollywood, or in this one the corporate world and reveals aspects of the culture from the noble to the sinful. Characters from central to tertiary are finely wrought and memorable. I would recommend that the books be read in the sequence of their publication since the main characters grow and deepen in a very satisfying way that adds considerably to the stories being told. I recommend all three books without reservation (Ganja Coast and Season of the Monsoon). For me they are everything a mystery, police procedural, and adventure should be!