Heterogeneous Etiologies: Cultural Contextualization of Chronic Illness in The Mysterious Ailment of Rupi Baskey: A Novel (2013)

Abstract

The evolving discourse of health among indigenous people, subject to the influence of both traditional wisdom and contemporary practices, remains elusive. Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar’s novel The Mysterious Ailment of Rupi Baskey (2013) explores the complex dynamics of these concepts within India’s Santhal community. The narrative provides a lens to explore the complexity prompted by the process of assimilation and marginalization in understanding Santhal history and its profound impact on their perceptions of health and healing. The paper contends that the incapacity of both traditional and modern knowledge bases to understand and remedy concerns related to women’s health and disability emphasizes the need for both a medical and a sociocultural comprehension of ailments. Advocating the necessity of a more inclusive approach that respects individual experiences and the knowledge systems of indigenous communities, this paper explores the intricacies of linking mysticism with health and challenges the oversimplistic categorization of illness and disability.