‘Witnessing such sights each day has a deep, scarring impact on the children at Manikarnika Ghat,’ says Radhika Iyengar, author of Fire on the Ganges

Radhika Iyengar (Source: special arrangement)

Caste is a living reality in India. A person may change his religion but caste follows him. It’s worse for those whose traditional occupation defines them to this day. Debut author Radhika Iyengar gives an in-depth picture of the life of one such community, the Doms of Banaras, without whom moksha is not considered possible by some Hindus. But how do they go about life in the city of death? How challenging is life around the cremation grounds? Through her richly detailed book, Fire on the Ganges, she paints a picture of the community. Edited excerpts from an interview.

For a first-time author, you have chosen a subject most would shy away from. What led you to this book? How long was the research?