{"product_id":"himalayan-histories-economy-polity-religious-traditions-9788178245300","title":"Himalayan Histories: Economy, Polity, Religious Traditions","description":"\u003cp\u003e • Author(s): Chetan Singh\u003cbr\u003e • Publisher: Orient Blackswan Pvt Ltd\u003cbr\u003e • Publisher Imprint: Orient Blackswan Pvt Ltd\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis book locates essential aspects of the material, mental, and spiritual world of western Himalayan peasant society.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn this large and difficult region, human enterprise and mountainous terrain long existed in a precarious balance. Natural adversity occasionally disrupted this balance.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSmall peasant communities lived here in scattered environmental niches and tenaciously extracted from their harsh surroundings a rudimentary but sustainable livelihood. Family organisation, social custom, and religious practices were adapted to their purposes.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe communities were integral constituents of larger political institutions, the state being one such. This laboriously created life-world was enlivened by myth, folklore, legend, and religious tradition.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhen colonial rule was established in the region during the eighteenth century, it transformed the peasant’s relationship with his natural surroundings. Old political allegiances were weakened. Yet, resilient customary hierarchies retained their influence through religio-cultural practices. These are some of the many themes of Himalayan history offered in this book.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIndian historians have mainly studied riverine belts and life in the plains. Sophisticated mountain histories are relatively rare. This book, by one of India’s most reputed historians of the Himalaya, is essential for a more complete understanding of Indian history.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Orient Blackswan Pvt Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":45616514498711,"sku":"9788178245300","price":642.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0666\/3471\/1191\/files\/9788178245300.webp?v=1769294994","url":"https:\/\/atlanticbooks.com\/products\/himalayan-histories-economy-polity-religious-traditions-9788178245300","provider":"Atlantic Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}