NEW DELHI, 11 December 2017: Forward Press Books’ keenly awaited book Mahishasur: Mithak Va Paramparayen (Mahishasur): Myth and Traditions) has been released. The book delves deep into the myths and traditions associated with Mahishasur in Bahujan society, as well as the myths found in the Puranas and those woven in modern times. The book, edited by Pramod Ranjan, Forward Press’ managing editor, explains in detail the ideology behind the observance of Mahishasur Martyrdom/Remembrance Day and answers all the questions raised on the issue. It also highlights the anthropological studies on Asurs – a primitive tribe of India – and their present pitiable condition.
The print edition of the book is available on Amazon, Flipkart and other e-commerce sites. It can also be bought as an e-book on Amazon (Kindle).
Interspersed with many rare photos, the book has been dedicated to Acharya Motiravan Kangali and Tirumay Chandralekha Kangali, the pioneering researchers on tribal culture.
Contents
The 360-page book comprises following sections and chapters:
| Preface | Author |
|---|---|
| Mahishasur Se Sambandhit Paramaparon Aur Andolan Ke Nihitarth (Implications of the traditions and movements related to Mahishasur) | Pramod Ranjan |
| Section I (Travelogues) | |
| Mahoba Mein Mahishasur (Mahishasur in Mahoba) | Pramod Ranjan |
| Chhotanagpur Ke Asur (The Asurs of Chhotanagpur) | Nawal Kishore Kumar |
| Rajasthan Se Karnataka Via Maharashtra: Talash Mahishasur Ki (Rajasthan to Karnataka via Maharashtra: On the trail of Mahishasur) | Anil Varghese |
| Section II (Myths and Traditions) | |
| Gondi Punem Darshan Aur Mahishasur (The Gond Punem philosophy and Mahishasur) | Sanjay Jothe |
| Hamara Mahishasur Diwas (Our Mahishasur Day) | Sushma Asur |
| Durgasaptashati Ka Asur Path (Asur rendition of Durga Saptashati) | Ashwini Kumar Pankaj |
| Mahishasur: Ek Punarkhoj (Reclaiming Mahishasur) | Gauri Lankesh |
| Karnataka Ki Bouddha Parampara Aur Mahish (Karnataka’s Buddhist Tradition and Mahisha) | B.P. Mahesh Chandra Guru |
| Adivasi Devi Chamunda Aur Mahishasur (Adivasi Goddess Chamunda and Mahishasur) | Cynthia Stephen |
| Bihar Mein Asur Paramparayen (Asur traditions in Bihar) | Naval Kishore Kumar |
| Chhak Kar Sharab Peete The Devi-Devta (What the gods drank) | D.N. Jha |
| Dr Ambedkar Aur Asur (Dr Ambedkar and Asurs) | Dr Siddharth |
| Section III (Whose movement and for whom) | |
| Mahishasur Andolan Ki Saiddhantiki: Ek Sanrachnatmak Vishleshan (Conceptualization of Mahishasur Movement: A Structural Analysis) | Anil Kumar |
| Sanskriti Ka Abrahmanikaran: Barasta Mahishasur Andolan (Debrahmanization of Culture through the Mahishasur Movement) | Om Prakash Kashyap |
| ‘Bharat Mata’ Aur Uski Bagavati Betiyan (Bharat Mata and her Unruly Daughters) | Nivedita Menon |
| Pasmanda Musalman Aur Mahishasur Shahadat Diwas (Pasmanda Muslims and Mahishasur Martyrdom Day) | Noor Zaheer |
| Section IV (Asurs: Culture and Present State) | |
| Asuron Ka Jivanotsav (The Asur Way of Celebrating Life) | Suresh Jagannatham |
| Shaapit Asur: Soshan Ka Rajnaitik Arthshastra (Cursed Asur: The Political Economy of Exploitation) | Vikas Dubey |
| Kaun Hain Vedon Ke Asur? (Who are the Asurs of the Vedas?) | Kumar Mukul |
| (Section V: Literature) | |
| Jotirao Phule Ki Prarthana (The Prayer of Jotirao Phule) | Jotirao Phule |
| Sambhaji Bhagat Ka Geet (The Songs of Sambhaji Bhagat) | Sambhaji Bhagat |
| Chhajjulal Silana Ki Ragini (Chhajjulal Silana’s Raginis) | Chhajjulal Silana |
| Kanwal Bharati Ki Kavitayein (Kanwal Bharti’s Poems) | Kanwal Bharati |
| Ramnika Gupta Ki Kavitayein (Ramnika Gupta’s Poems) | Ramnika Gupta |
| Vinod Kumar Ki Kavita (Vinod Kumar’s poems) | Vinod Kumar |
| Play: Asurpriya | Sanjeev Chandan |
| (Section VI: Appendix) | |
| Mahishasur Diwas Se Sambhandit Tathya (Facts pertaining to Mahishasur Day) | |
| About the contributors |
Some highlights of the book
- Mahishasur: Ek Jannayak (Editor: Pramod Ranjan, June 2016) was well received. This book revolves around the Mahishasur Martyrdom Day. This new book (Mahishasur: Mithak Va Paramparayen) includes researched articles on tales and traditions associated with Mahishasur.
- Material on Bahujan culture is rare and that is why few authors write on the topic. No wonder then the compilation of the book Mahishasur: Mithak Va Paramparayen was a painstaking endeavour. It was six years in the making. The editor and the contributors travelled to different parts of the country to dig up traditions related to Mahishasur and discover how they differed from region to region.
- The book includes some rare photos related to Mahishasur traditions in different parts of the country.
- A new, updated (second) edition of Mahishasur: Ek Jannayak is also available. Those interested in the topic should read both the books.
- Mahishasur: Ek Jannayak (first edition) has also been published in English under the title Mahishasur: A People’s Hero. The English edition of Mahishasur: Mithak Va Paramparayen is under publication.
- FORWARD Press promotes e-books as part of its Green World campaign. Our e-books are available at much lower prices compared to the corresponding print editions. We encourage you to read our e-books wherever possible.
Price and how to order
The print edition of Mahishasur: Mithak Va Paramparayen is priced at Rs 350 (paperback) and Rs 850 (hardback). The e-book is priced at Rs 250.
| Book Title | Edition | Price | URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mahishasur: Mithak Va Paramparayen | E-book | Rs 250 | https://www.amazon.in/dp/B077XZ863F |
| Mahishasur: Mithak Va Paramparayen | Paperback | Rs 350 | https://www.amazon.in/dp/8193561651 |
| Mahishasur: Mithak Va Paramparayen | Hardback | Rs 850 | https://www.amazon.in/dp/819356166X |
| Mahishasur: Ek Jannayak | E-book | Rs 118 | https://www.amazon.in/dp/B06XGBK1NC |
| Mahishasur: Ek Jannayak | Paperback | Rs 150 | https://www.amazon.in/dp/819325841X |
| Mahishasur: Ek Jannayak | Hardback | Rs 300 | |
| Mahishasur: A People’s Hero | E-book | Rs 118 | https://www.amazon.in/dp/B072JV4X77 |
| Mahishasur: A People’s Hero | Paperback | Rs 150 | https://www.amazon.in/dp/8193258444 |
| Mahishasur: A People’s Hero | Hardback | Rs 300 |
The Marginalised Prakashan, New Delhi, is the publisher and distributor of Forward Press Books. You can order these books from your home by sending a money order (MO) or through value payable post (VPP). Contact: The Marginalised Prakashan, IGNOU Road, New Delhi. Mobile: 9968527911
We are confident that you will support this initiative for building knowledge on Bahujan culture and literature.
Forward Press also publishes books on Bahujan issues. Forward Press Books sheds light on the widespread problems as well as the finer aspects of Bahujan (Dalit, OBC, Adivasi, Nomadic, Pasmanda) society, culture, literature and politics. Contact us for a list of FP Books’ titles and to order. Mobile: +919968527911, Email: info@forwardmagazine.in)
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