"This Wonderful Collection Serves as a Unique Introduction to Cultural Life in Contemporary South Asia...[W]ill be of Great Interest to Scholars and Students in Anthropology, Sociology, Gender Studies, Religious Studies, Geography, and Communication Studies."---Akhil Gupta, University of California, Les Angeles<BR><BR>"Mines and Lamb have Once Again Provided an Eminently Readable. Highly Engaging, and Varied Set of Case Studies, Organized Along Major Axes of Current Concern, Both Practical and Intellectual...[A] Real Joy to Teach!"---Margaret Mills, The Ohio State University<BR><BR>This Updated and Expanded anthology provides a stimulating view of the lives of ordinary citizens in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. The second edition of this popular textbook is a timely collection that explores key themes in understanding the region, including gender, caste, class, religion, globalization, economic liberalization, nationalism, and emerging modernities. New readings focus attention on the experiences of the middle classes, migrant workers, and IT professionals, and on media, consumerism, and youth culture. Clear and engaged writing makes this text particularly valuable for general and student readers, while the range of new and classic scholarship provides a useful resource for specialists.