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South Asian Folklore: An Encylopedia. eds. Margaret A. Mills, Peter J. Claus, and sarah Diamond. (New York: Routledge, 2003. Pp. vii + 710, list of contributors, list of articles, maps, entries A to Z, index.)
South Asian Folklore: An Encyclopedia is a muchawaited work that collates rich information on various genres of South Asian life and cultures. The entries provide information on the regions and folklore of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and sri Lanka. Unlike most works that have examined separately the customs and traditions of the countries within South Asia, this encyclopedia transcends political borders and explores the cultural landscape by illuminating the similarities and differences embodied in the verbal, material, and symbolic expressions of varying peoples.
The content and organization of this encyclopedia are excellent. In order "to serve various informational needs" (x), the editors have incorporated three types of articles. There are "general concept articles" based on topics such as "Epic," "Folk Art," and "Material Culture"; "case study articles" that expand upon a particular theme or a genre emphasized or illustrated in a general article; and "definitional articles" that introduce either a non-english term (like "Hadith") or a concept (such as "Hot/Cold") as interpreted in South Asia or that create a point of reference to articles on related themes under a familiar subheading (such as "Song" or "Folk Literature").
The key themes addressed in the encyclopedia include specific entries on South Asian countries and regions, folklore scholarship, and expressive genres in material, verbal, and performing arts. Other significant topics covered in the text include the South Asian Diaspora in Africa, the Caribbean, Fiji and the South Pacific, North America, the South Sest Indian ocean, and the United Kingdom; popular culture as represented in comic books, cassettes, films, songs, television, and wedding videos; and the tribal culture of India. some...