Savaging The Civilized: Verrier Elwin, His Tribals, And India By: Ramachandra Guha

Savaging The Civilized: Verrier Elwin, His Tribals, And India

Discover an intricate and compelling portrait of one of India's most remarkable figures with "Savaging The Civilized," a masterfully crafted biography by renowned historian Ramachandra Guha. This evocative and beautifully written book brings to life the multifaceted personality of Verrier Elwin, an anthropologist, poet, Gandhian, hedonist, Englishman, and Indian all rolled into one.

About the Book

"Savaging The Civilized" is both a biography and a historical exploration that delves deep into the life of Verrier Elwin to shed light on some of the most significant debates of our times. It explores themes such as the impact of economic development, cultural pluralism versus cultural homogeneity, and the complex dynamics between indigenous communities and mainstream society.

This hardcover book (Binding: Hardcover) is published by Penguin (Publisher Imprint: Allen Lane), with an ISBN-13 number of 9780670083923. Printed in the English language and containing 350 pages, it's available from October 2014 onwards.

The book is not just about Elwin; it also provides insights into his relationships with diverse groups of people. It explores his friendship with the elite while being at home with the impoverished and destitute. It chronicles his charisma that captivated women and intellectuals alike, including Arthur Koestler and Jawaharlal Nehru.

Guha masterfully navigates Elwin's life, showing him as an anthropologist who lived and loved with the tribes yet could also write literary essays and monographs for academic audiences. The book is a testament to Guha's prowess in historical inquiry, having pioneered fields such as environmental history, social history of sport, and contemporary history.

About the Author

Ramachandra Guha, raised in Dehradun and educated in Delhi and Kolkata, is now based in Bangalore. He has taught at prestigious institutions like Yale, Stanford, Oslo, and the London School of Economics. His awards include the Leopold-Hidy Prize from the American Society for Environmental History, the Sahitya Akademi Award, and the Padma Bhushan.

Guha's works have been translated into over twenty languages, demonstrating his global impact. In 2008 and again in 2013, he featured on Prospect magazine's list of the world's most influential thinkers.