Sameer Gudhate presents the Book Review of The Final Farewell by Minakshi Dewan

Death is one of those subjects we instinctively tiptoe around. We talk about it in hushed tones, if at all. Yet in India, where faiths, customs, and communities are so diverse, the way we say goodbye to our loved ones is as telling as the way we live. Minakshi Dewan’s The Final Farewell pulls back the curtain on these final journeys—not with gloom, but with empathy, curiosity, and a deep respect for tradition. Dewan, through research, field visits, and heartfelt interviews, brings us into a world most of us never truly see unless we’re forced to.

The book travels through India’s major faiths, showing how each treats death, mourning, and the transition from life to whatever lies beyond. From the burning ghats of Varanasi to quiet Muslim burials, from Sikh prayers to the unique rites of the Kinnar community, it’s a tapestry of belief and ritual. But this isn’t just a cultural guide—it’s an unflinching look at how caste, gender, economics, and even environmental concerns weave into these practices. Dewan also sheds light on people whose livelihoods revolve around death: crematorium workers, women priests, professional mourners, and funeral service providers.

Dewan’s style is refreshingly approachable. She blends the precision of a researcher with the warmth of a storyteller. Her prose is clear without being clinical, rich without being heavy. Anecdotes and historical context flow together so naturally that you forget you’re learning; you simply feel like you’re listening to someone who’s been there.

While the “characters” here are real people, their stories have the depth of well-written fiction. There’s the crematorium worker who has seen more farewells than anyone should in a lifetime, the women volunteers breaking barriers to perform last rites, and the family’s navigating tradition in modern contexts. The ideas—gender equality in rituals, dignity in death work, sustainable cremations—are explored with honesty and nuance.

The book isn’t linear, nor does it need to be. Dewan organizes it thematically and geographically, letting each chapter breathe. This structure allows for a layered reading experience—you can see similarities and differences across communities without feeling rushed.

At its heart, The Final Farewell is about respect—for the dead, for the living, and for the earth. It’s also about change: women stepping into priestly roles, caste lines being challenged, eco-friendly rituals gaining traction. Yet, it’s realistic about the work still left to do. The underlying message? Rituals evolve, and perhaps they should, if it means more compassion and fairness.

Some chapters made me smile—like the musicians who see funerals as celebrations of life. Others hit harder, especially the accounts from the COVID-19 pandemic when volunteers became surrogate family to the departed. More than once, I had to pause and reflect on my own experiences with loss and ritual.

Its biggest strength is balance—between fact and feeling, critique and celebration. Dewan doesn’t shy away from sensitive topics like misogyny or exploitation, yet her tone is never accusatory. Her interviews feel organic, her observations sharp yet kind.

If I had to point out a weakness, it’s that a couple of sections felt denser, almost overloaded with detail. But even those moments serve to underline the complexity of the subject, and the narrative always recovers its rhythm.

Personally, this book made me rethink every ritual I’ve witnessed. It reminded me that these customs are as much for those left behind as for the departed. I also appreciated how it didn’t push one “right” way to mourn, but rather encouraged understanding and empathy across traditions.

The Final Farewell is moving, informative, and quietly transformative. It’s a rare book that can make you think about mortality and still leave you with hope. I’d give it 4.5/5 and recommend it to anyone curious about the intersection of culture, tradition, and humanity. Dewan has created something important here, and I hope she continues exploring the stories most of us overlook.

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