Author: Suzanne Hanchett

Publisher: Development Resources Press

Published: 2014-11-30

Total Pages: 304

ISBN-13: 0990633721

“Water is life” in Bangladesh. This book introduces the reader to the vast range of meanings that water has in this South Asian country. Mythol­ogy, ancient sciences, folklore, and language provide a cultural founda­tion for water's uses in the home. One chapter is devoted to the problem of arsenic in drinking water. Includes Glossary, Bibliography, 70 photos, Index. Reviews and Endorsements Interesting and important for anyone working in water in Bangladesh and world­wide. If only there were such books for all countries!” -Joke Mulwijk, Executive Director, Gender and Water Alliance “A group of authors...have in this delightful book explored familiar cultural nuances: nuances that generally escape the notice of policy makers sitting in distant headquarters formulating policies for villagers.”....“The authors have narrated myths related to ponds, for instance.... Each aspect of cultural use has been described in so much detail and with such authenticity that, but for the paucity of space, one feels like reproducing the entire book here.”.... “Conventionally, policy makers always neglect the cultural aspects of any new product they have introduced. But it became apparent that there were side effects of having water from tube wells: people would get afflicted with skin diseases, including cancer, because of the arsenic content present in the water.”.... “Even though the focus of this book is Bangladesh, its lessons hold true for India and Pakistan as well, another strong indication of how each of them share a common culture….” -Professor Bidyut Mohanty, Head, Women’s Studies Department, Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi. Review published in Social Change (2016)