Book Review: Karan Madhok’s ‘Ananda…’ Explores India’s Deep Relationship With Cannabis, From Bhang To Drug Trade
‘Ananda: An Exploration of Cannabis in India’ is the first detailed study and book on cannabis in India, exploring its botanical, spiritual, medicinal, and cultural importance.
My earliest literary encounter with cannabis was through the classic ‘Khatar Kakak Tarang’ by Harimohan Jha, a celebrated Maithili writer whose portrayals of Mithila highlighted cannabis’s sacred, medicinal, and recreational dimensions. These depictions, steeped in cultural ethos, made me reflect on cannabis’s duality: revered as divine yet stigmatised in modern times. When I came across Karan Madhok’s ‘Ananda: An Exploration of Cannabis in India’, I was eager to connect my personal familiarity with the plant to a broader, pan-Indian narrative.
‘Ananda…’ is the first detailed study and book on cannabis in India, exploring its botanical, spiritual, medicinal, and cultural importance. The book succeeds in clearing many misconceptions about cannabis, encouraging readers to see it not just as a drug but as a symbol of resilience and adaptability. It also opens discussions on how this ancient plant can support innovation and sustainability today.
Tracing cannabis’s social history, the book is divided into twelve chapters, with 45 pages comprising the reference section. It takes readers on a vivid journey across India, uncovering the legendary ‘Malana cream’ of Himachal, the mythical ‘Idukki gold’ of Kerala, and the ‘Sheelavathi’ strain of Andhra-Odisha. Through these accounts, the author introduces the communities that cultivate and revere cannabis, each with its own customs, deepening our understanding of the plant’s socio-cultural significance.
Beyond its historical allure, the author explores cannabis’s medicinal and spiritual dimensions. He visits hospitals and clinics using cannabis derivatives for pain relief and chronic illnesses, emphasising its therapeutic potential. Simultaneously, he captures its sanctity in rituals, like the consumption of bhang during Holi and Mahashivaratri, illustrating its spiritual dimension. Yet, Madhok also confronts the plant’s darker side, addressing addiction, the narcotics trade, and its criminalised status in contemporary India.
On Decriminalisation
Through historical accounts, field research, and personal anecdotes, Madhok presents cannabis as a potent symbol of India’s paradoxical relationship with tradition, modernity, and law. The book also offers a nuanced take on the debate surrounding cannabis legalisation. Author Karan Madhok evaluates the arguments for and against decriminalisation, reflecting on its implications for creativity, spirituality, and public health. By showcasing states like Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh — where cannabis cultivation has been legalised for industrial purposes — he offers a hopeful perspective on a regulated cannabis economy.
Madhok’s writing combines journalistic precision with engaging storytelling. “Acres upon acres of the greenest, cleanest weed I have ever seen, over bugyals (meadows) coruscating golden in reflection under the afternoon sun, stems that are ten, twelve feet tall, with leaves and buds that bloom above to even greater heights. The meadow is surrounded by glaciers, resting at an altitude of over 2,100 metres above sea level,” he writes in a section on Uttarakhand’s Urgam Valley. “Each plant here in Uttarakhand’s Urgam Valley is generously well-endowed, grown naturally with little or no human interference, with flowering tops of the female plants so rich with trichomes that one can hardly help but simply reach over and rub a little resin off.”
Madhok’s prose is sharp, occasionally poetic, and laced with humour. Whether recounting interactions with cultivators or reflecting on his own experiences, his voice is authentic and engaging.
“Praveen, the ‘bhang collector’ who has led us here, tells me that the local maal is called sulfa. He tells me that it’s the best in the state of Uttarakhand. I’m aware that it’s some of the best in the world,” he writes. The book reads as much like a travelogue as a scholarly exploration, enriched by his firsthand journeys to remote villages, temples, and hospitals.
In ‘Ananda…’, author Karan Madhok provides an immersive experience that informs, entertains, and provokes thought. This book is a valuable resource for historians, cultural enthusiasts, and curious readers alike. It also offers a clear and engaging exploration of India’s deep and enigmatic connection with cannabis, inviting readers to reflect on its historical, cultural, and social significance.
Book: Ananda: An Exploration of Cannabis in India by Karan Madhok
Price: Rs 999
Publisher: Aleph
The writer is a Bengaluru-based management professional, curator, and literary critic
[Disclaimer: The opinions, beliefs, and views expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this website are personal and do not reflect the opinions, beliefs, and views of ABP News Network Pvt Ltd.]
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