FIRE ON THE GANGES Hardcover

"Fire on the Ganges: Life among the Dead in Banaras" by Radhika Iyengar is a powerful and deeply empathetic journalistic account that chronicles the everyday realities of the Dom community in Banaras (Varanasi), a Dalit sub-caste traditionally designated to perform Hindu cremations. Despite their indispensable role in facilitating liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth, the Doms are condemned to the lowest rung of the caste hierarchy and treated as 'untouchables'. Through years of immersive research and intimate storytelling, Iyengar delves into the historical past of Banaras while vividly portraying the struggles, survival, ambitions, betrayals, and loves of spirited individuals within the Dom community, offering a groundbreaking look at a community striving for dignity and a place beyond the confines of ancient tradition.