Religion: The Bhils & the Odhnis

Do-gooders used to be rare among Hindus, with their belief in the inescapability of Karma and the illusory nature of the created world. But Calcutta's Rameshwar Tantia is a new kind of Hindu; he likes action—especially for his own home region of Marwar, in western Rajasthan. and for all the people in the surrounding desert country. A wealthy businessman (jute, tea, mining), 45-year-old Philanthropist Tantia has arranged new marriages for poor widows, paying the indispensable dowries out of his own pocket. His latest good work: uncovering the Bhil ladies.

There are some 4,000,000...

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