Pilgrimage and Politics in Colonial Bengal: The Myth of the Goddess Sati

The concept of "Mother India" gained political significance in colonial Bengal, inspiring Bengali writers and artists to portray the nation as a goddess. The Hindu goddess Sati, who was believed to have been dismembered, became an icon of heroic self-sacrifice and her body parts were scattered across South Asia, enshrined as Shakti Pithas. This book explores the sacred sites associated with Sati in eastern India, including Kalighat, Tarapith, and Kamakhya, and examines Bengali and colonial responses to these temples and ritual traditions. It provides the first comprehensive study of this ancient network of pilgrimage sites in an art historical and political context.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 138 pages
Publication date: 21 January 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

In the late 19th century, the concept of "Mother India" gained political significance in colonial Bengal, serving as a response to British rule. Bengali writers and artists used literature and visual culture to promote patriotism among the indigenous population, highlighting the Hindu goddess Sati as a symbol of the subcontinent and an icon of heroic self-sacrifice. According to a myth of cosmic dismemberment, Sati's body parts were scattered across South Asia, and her sacred sites, known as Shakti Pithas, were reimagined as fragmented representations of the motherland in crisis. The most potent of these sites were located in eastern India, including Kalighat and Tarapith in Bengal, and Kamakhya in Assam.

This book aims to provide a comprehensive examination of this ancient network of pilgrimage sites through the lens of art history and politics. By exploring Bengali and colonial responses to these temples and the ritual traditions associated with them, including Tantra and image worship, the book seeks to shed light on the complex interplay between religion, nationalism, and cultural identity in colonial Bengal. It will offer the first comprehensive study of these pilgrimage sites in an art historical and political context, contributing to our understanding of the region's rich cultural heritage and its role in shaping India's colonial history.

Weight: 260g
Dimension: 246 x 174 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032476933