Domes and the Dead: An example of extreme fatalism among mortuary workers in Bangladesh

Masum A. Patwary; William T. O'Hare; K. Maudood Elahi; M. Manzurul Hassan; Mosharraf H. Sarker

Domes and the Dead: An example of extreme fatalism among mortuary workers in Bangladesh

Masum A. Patwary, William T. O'Hare, K. Maudood Elahi, M. Manzurul Hassan, Mosharraf H. Sarker

Teesside University

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Abstract

Domes in Dhaka are a group exposed to extremely unpleasant, stressful and psychologically damaging working conditions and cultural marginalisation. In observing them and speaking with them, two questions are obvious: why do they do it and how do they cope? The answer to the first question seems to be that they accept their position, more through extreme fatalism than any sense of reward or worth. The answer to the second seems to lie partly in their relationship with the dead bodies, to which they attribute powers and motives, and partly in resorting to alcohol, linked to an apparent immunity from the normal restrictions placed on alcohol consumption in Bangladesh.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	10-18
Journal	Kaleidoscope: The Interdisciplinary Postgraduate Journal of Durham University’s Institute of Advanced Study
Volume	4
Issue number	1
Publication status	Published - Aug 2010
Event	Afterlives Postgraduate Conference 2009 - Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom Duration: 25 Sept 2009 → 25 Sept 2009

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title = "Domes and the Dead: An example of extreme fatalism among mortuary workers in Bangladesh",

abstract = "Domes in Dhaka are a group exposed to extremely unpleasant, stressful and psychologically damaging working conditions and cultural marginalisation. In observing them and speaking with them, two questions are obvious: why do they do it and how do they cope? The answer to the first question seems to be that they accept their position, more through extreme fatalism than any sense of reward or worth. The answer to the second seems to lie partly in their relationship with the dead bodies, to which they attribute powers and motives, and partly in resorting to alcohol, linked to an apparent immunity from the normal restrictions placed on alcohol consumption in Bangladesh.",

author = "Patwary, {Masum A.} and O'Hare, {William T.} and Elahi, {K. Maudood} and Hassan, {M. Manzurul} and Sarker, {Mosharraf H.}",

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month = aug,

language = "English",

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journal = "Kaleidoscope: The Interdisciplinary Postgraduate Journal of Durham University{\textquoteright}s Institute of Advanced Study",

issn = "1756-8137",

publisher = "Durham University",

number = "1",

note = "Afterlives Postgraduate Conference 2009 ; Conference date: 25-09-2009 Through 25-09-2009",

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Domes and the Dead: An example of extreme fatalism among mortuary workers in Bangladesh. / Patwary, Masum A.; O'Hare, William T.; Elahi, K. Maudood et al.
In: Kaleidoscope: The Interdisciplinary Postgraduate Journal of Durham University’s Institute of Advanced Study, Vol. 4, No. 1, 08.2010, p. 10-18.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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T1 - Domes and the Dead: An example of extreme fatalism among mortuary workers in Bangladesh

AU - Patwary, Masum A.

AU - O'Hare, William T.

AU - Elahi, K. Maudood

AU - Hassan, M. Manzurul

AU - Sarker, Mosharraf H.

PY - 2010/8

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AB - Domes in Dhaka are a group exposed to extremely unpleasant, stressful and psychologically damaging working conditions and cultural marginalisation. In observing them and speaking with them, two questions are obvious: why do they do it and how do they cope? The answer to the first question seems to be that they accept their position, more through extreme fatalism than any sense of reward or worth. The answer to the second seems to lie partly in their relationship with the dead bodies, to which they attribute powers and motives, and partly in resorting to alcohol, linked to an apparent immunity from the normal restrictions placed on alcohol consumption in Bangladesh.

M3 - Article

SN - 1756-8137

VL - 4

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JO - Kaleidoscope: The Interdisciplinary Postgraduate Journal of Durham University’s Institute of Advanced Study

JF - Kaleidoscope: The Interdisciplinary Postgraduate Journal of Durham University’s Institute of Advanced Study

IS - 1

T2 - Afterlives Postgraduate Conference 2009

Y2 - 25 September 2009 through 25 September 2009

ER -

Domes and the Dead: An example of extreme fatalism among mortuary workers in Bangladesh

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