Book reviewed by Devapriya Sanyal (St. Joseph’s University, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. E-mail: devapriya.sanyal@sju.edu.in)

“The book’s strength, however, lies in its tackling of otherwise unexplored themes, such as the sexual habits of older persons—a subject that is not only under-researched but also a taboo for discussion, especially in India. The book’s rather strong and relevant conclusion that ‘until the healthy understanding of sex replaces the current cultural discourses and rhetoric of sex in South Asia, no punishment will be able to stop rape incidents’ (p. 185), however, lacks a strong buildup in the remaining text. Nonetheless, the book drives home Acharya’s argument that social taboos, under the garb of civilization, prevented discussions about sex and sexuality, deteriorating it into something ‘uncivilized and filthy,’ an act exploited as a commodity or a means of generating capital, rather than being perceived as a ‘crucial aspect of healthy living’ (p. 187). The book would be of interest to scholars of social anthropology, sociology, and those studying South Asia.”

Sanyal, D. (2025). Book review: Tulasi Acharya, Sex, Desire and Taboo: Religion, Culture of Ability and Patriarchy. South Asia Research, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/02627280251316848