Karma Cola
Encyclopedia
Karma Cola is a non-fiction book about India written by Gita Mehta
originally published in 1979.
descended upon India, disciples of a cultural revolution that proclaimed that the magic and mystery missing from their lives was to be found in the East
. An Indian writer who has also lived in England and the United States, Gita Mehta was ideally placed to observe the spectacle of European and American "pilgrims" interacting with their hosts. When she finally recorded her razor sharp observations in Karma Cola, the book became an instant classic for describing, in merciless detail, what happens when the traditions
of an ancient and long-lived society are turned into commodities
and sold to those who don't understand them.
Gita Mehta
Gita Mehta is an Indian writer and was born in Delhi in a renowned Oriya family of freedom fighters. She is the daughter of Biju Patnaik, an Indian independence activist and a Chief Minister in post-independence Orissa. Her younger brother Naveen Patnaik is presently the Chief Minister of Orissa...
originally published in 1979.
Subject matter
The story begins in the late '60s, when hundreds of thousands of WesternersWestern world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
descended upon India, disciples of a cultural revolution that proclaimed that the magic and mystery missing from their lives was to be found in the East
Orient
The Orient means "the East." It is a traditional designation for anything that belongs to the Eastern world or the Far East, in relation to Europe. In English it is a metonym that means various parts of Asia.- Derivation :...
. An Indian writer who has also lived in England and the United States, Gita Mehta was ideally placed to observe the spectacle of European and American "pilgrims" interacting with their hosts. When she finally recorded her razor sharp observations in Karma Cola, the book became an instant classic for describing, in merciless detail, what happens when the traditions
Tradition
A tradition is a ritual, belief or object passed down within a society, still maintained in the present, with origins in the past. Common examples include holidays or impractical but socially meaningful clothes , but the idea has also been applied to social norms such as greetings...
of an ancient and long-lived society are turned into commodities
Commodity
In economics, a commodity is the generic term for any marketable item produced to satisfy wants or needs. Economic commodities comprise goods and services....
and sold to those who don't understand them.
Editions
Reprints include:| Year | Publisher | Pages | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Jonathan Cape | 201 | 9780224017749 |
| 1981 | Collins | 210 | 9780006360926 |
| 1990 | Minerva | 210 | 9780749390693 |
| 1991 | Fawcette Columbine | 193 | 9780449906040 |
| 1993 | Penguin Books | 193 | 9780140236835 |
| 1994 | Vintage Books | 208 | 9780679754336 |
| 2010 | Random House | 9781409042648 |