Beschreibung
Over the last decade traditional Indian temple towns have
transformed into centres for urban lifestyles and tourist
activities. One of these is the historic temple town
Vrindavan in North India, on which this study focuses.
Exploring the multiple socio-cultural realities present in
the town, the author engages with the narratives of the
residents as they respond to the socio-environmental changes
against the backdrop of national and regional modernisation
processes. Here the imaginaries of a mythic Vrindavan, with
its pristine and sacred environment, are evoked in
narrations on contemporary modernity.
Samrat S. Kumar is an independent researcher
holding a PhD in South Asia Studies from the University of
Oslo. He has been studying religious and cultural life in
Vrindavan for the last 10 years.
