Risky 'rono' (king): Interpreting shamans and the shifting geographies of youth aspirations in neoliberal Gujarat

Keywords: shamans, youth aspirations, shifting livelihoods, neoliberal economy, Gujarat, India
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Saturday
Session Start / End Time: 2/26/2022 03:40 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/26/2022 05:00 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 67

Abstract

'Maldhari' or pastoral communities in Gujarat face a serious erosion of their traditional livelihoods given the depletion of grasslands and the poor economic returns on rearing livestock. Maldhari youth with limited educational and social capital must navigate the precarious neoliberal economy and survive the shifting geographies of occupations and urbanization they inhabit. It is not a coincidence that in the midst of this socio-economic flux has emerged the tremendous popularity of modern day bhuvas or shamans beyond their traditional ritualistic roles as mediators between the human and spiritual realms. Many 'bhuvas' have achieved Rockstar fame as performers whose music videos and songs have attracted millions of views on social media. This paper examines the phenomenal popularity of shamans as role models for maldhari youth not just as spiritual healers in the traditional sense, but as innovative interpreters of changing lifestyles and occupations who articulate community pride, risk taking and daredevil masculinity. It ethnographically explores the circulation and reception of popular shamans among young audiences, and interprets their communicative speech acts reflected in super hit songs such as ‘risky rono’ (king), ritual performances, speeches and social media posts. The ability of 'bhuvas' to seamlessly navigate tradition and modernity, embrace the consumerist good life and operate in the urban informal economy offers important insights into the ways in which youth may cope with the risks and challenges of the neoliberal economic landscape.