Contradictory Lives: Baul Women in India and Bangladesh by Lisa I. Knight (Engli

Description: Contradictory Lives by Lisa I. Knight In this multi-sited ethnographic study, Knight explores the everyday lives of women of the Baul tradition of musical mystics in India and Bangladesh. She demonstrates that Baul women construct a meaningful life as they navigate between conflicting expectations of Bauls to be carefree and of women to be modest. FORMAT Hardcover LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description In literature and popular imagination, Bauls of India and Bangladesh are characterized as musical mystics: orange-clad nomads of both Hindu and Muslim backgrounds. They wander the countryside and entertain with their passionate singing and unusual behavior; they are especially well-known for their evocative songs, which challenge the caste system and sectarianism prevalent in South Asia.Although Bauls claim to value women over men, little is known about the views and experiences of Baul women. Based on ethnographic research in both the predominantly Hindu context of West Bengal (India) and the Muslim country of Bangladesh, this book explores the everyday lives of Baul women. Knight examines the contradictory expectations regarding Baul women-on the one hand the ideal of a group unencumbered by societal restraints and concerns, and on the other the real constrains of feminine respectability that seemingly curtail womens mobility and public performances.Knight demonstrates that Baul women respond to these conflicting expectations in various ways, sometimes adopting and other times subverting local gendered norms to craft a meaningful life. More so than their male counterparts, Baul women feel encumbered by norms. Rather than seeing Baul womens normative behavior as indicative of their conformity to gendered roles (and, therefore, failure as Bauls), Knight argues that these women creatively draw on societal expectations to transcend their social limits and create new paths. Author Biography Assistant Professor of Religion and Asian Studies, Furman University Table of Contents Part 1: Multiple Sites Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: "Real Bauls Live under Trees:" Scholarly and Popular Imaginings of Bauls and the Marginalization of Baul Women Chapter 3: "Ive Done Nothing Wrong:" Feminine Respectability and Baul Expectations Part 2: Negotiations Chapter 4: Negotiating between Paradigms of the Good Baul and the Good Woman Chapter 5: "Do Not Neglect This Golden Body of Yours:" Personal and Social Transformation through Baul Songs Chapter 6: Renouncing Expectations Concluding Thoughts Glossary Bibliography Review The dominant tropes imagined for the Baul tradition of eastern India and Bangladesh are constructed around male models: the wandering mistrel carrying his ektara instrument who engages in esoteric ritual practices. Lisa Knights sensitive ethnography, however, fills in the significant lacunae of the lives and practices of Baul women. She artfully analyzes the ways in which these women bridge the contradictory expectations of Baul traditions as wanderers and those of the non-Baul communities as respectable, settled Bengali householders. This study will significantly impact the ways in which readers understand Baul traditions, asceticism, boundaries of religious identities, and womens agency and performance in South Asia. * Joyce Burkhalter Flueckiger, author of In Ammas Healing Room: Gender & Vernacular Islam in South India. * Promotional Explores the everyday lives of women of the Baul tradition of musical mystics in India and Bangladesh Long Description In literature and popular imagination, Bauls of India and Bangladesh are characterized as musical mystics: orange-clad nomads of both Hindu and Muslim backgrounds. They wander the countryside and entertain with their passionate singing and unusual behavior; they are especially well-known for their evocative songs, which challenge the caste system and sectarianism prevalent in South Asia. Although Bauls claim to value women over men, little is known about the views and experiences of Baul women. Based on ethnographic research in both the predominantly Hindu context of West Bengal (India) and the Muslim country of Bangladesh, this book explores the everyday lives of Baul women. Knight examines the contradictory expectations regarding Baul women-on the one hand the ideal of a group unencumbered by societal restraints and concerns, and on the other the real constrains of femininerespectability that seemingly curtail womens mobility and public performances. Knight demonstrates that Baul women respond to these conflicting expectations in various ways, sometimes adopting and other times subverting local gendered norms to craft a meaningful life. More so than their male counterparts, Baul women feel encumbered by norms. Rather than seeing Baul womens normative behavior as indicative of their conformity to gendered roles (and, therefore, failure as Bauls), Knight argues that these women creatively draw on societal expectations to transcend theirsocial limits and create new paths. Review Quote "The dominant tropes imagined for the Baul tradition of eastern India and Bangladesh are constructed around male models: the wandering mistrel carrying his ektara instrument who engages in esoteric ritual practices. Lisa Knights sensitive ethnography, however, fills in the significant lacunae of the lives and practices of Baul women. She artfully analyzes the ways in which these women bridge the contradictory expectations of Baul traditions as wanderers and those of the non-Baul communities as respectable, settled Bengali householders. This study will significantly impact the ways in which readers understand Baul traditions, asceticism, boundaries of religious identities, and womens agency and performance in South Asia."- Joyce Burkhalter Flueckiger, author ofIn Ammas Healing Room: Gender & Vernacular Islam in South India. "Although Baul discourse emphasizes the spiritual importance of women and even celebrates womens spiritual and bodily superiority, in practice Baul women are frequently marginalized. In fact, it is often implied or explicitly stated--by Bauls, scholars, and Bengalis in general--that there are no real Baul women. This book, however, argues that Baul women exist, are important, and are worth listening to. Lisa Knight has given us an exciting, engrossing and original book based on in-depth ethnographic fieldwork and meticulous scholarship."-- Sarah Lamb, Professor of Anthropology, Brandeis University Details ISBN0199773548 Author Lisa I. Knight Short Title CONTRADICTORY LIVES Language English ISBN-10 0199773548 ISBN-13 9780199773541 Media Book Format Hardcover Publication Date 2011-07-28 Year 2011 Subtitle Baul Women in India and Bangladesh UK Release Date 2011-07-28 Imprint Oxford University Press Inc Place of Publication New York Country of Publication United States AU Release Date 2011-07-28 NZ Release Date 2011-07-28 US Release Date 2011-07-28 Pages 232 Publisher Oxford University Press Inc Alternative 9780199396849 DEWEY 204.22082095414 Illustrations 17 halftones, 1 map Audience General We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:37248929;

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