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Indian Religions in the Global Emerald Trade: A Photo Essay
Author(s) -
Brazeal Brian
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
visual anthropology review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.346
H-Index - 18
eISSN - 1548-7458
pISSN - 1058-7187
DOI - 10.1111/j.1548-7458.2012.01119.x
Subject(s) - emerald , piety , asceticism , contradiction , sociology , religious studies , law , history , political science , philosophy , archaeology , chemistry , mineralogy , epistemology
The I ndian emerald trade has traditionally been controlled by members of the J ain religious community. Jain emerald traders are deeply pious and ascetic. The emerald business as it is practiced outside of I ndia is rife with violence, lying, cheating, sexual exuberance, and a deep attachment to shiny green stones. There seemed to be a contradiction between the model of personal piety envisioned by J ainism and their participation in such an impious economy. J ain traders and philosophers explained that there was no contradiction at all. H indus and M uslims join their J ain counterparts in J aipur's J ohari B azaar, or J ewelers’ M arket. Together, these three religious communities have created a moment of peaceful, profitable, and predictable exchange in the global gemstone economy. Photography has long been an integral part of the gemstone business. Rarely, however, do we catch a glimpse into the lives of the men who mine, manufacture, and distribute these stones around the world. This photo essay locates these people in their social, economic, and especially religious contexts. The emerald trade follows the contours of religious communities. While it is not possible to convey the content of a religious ethic in a photograph, it is possible to show people living out those ethics.