Paper short abstract:

Shillong the capital of the state of Meghalaya welcomes visitors into the city with butchery stalls that display carcasses of butchered animals. The first reaction of any foreigner is one of revulsion. What is the idea behind such a show? Is it for reasons of aesthetics and functionality? Or, is it for more? This paper will look into the politics behind such an exhibit.

Paper long abstract:

When one enters the town of Shillong in Meghalaya through NH 40, one is greeted by butchered carcasses on display along the sidewalks in the locality of Mawlai, the entry port of Shillong. The butchered carcasses comprise of different cuts of meat of the pig and the cow, with pig heads hanging from the side posts of the shops. The initial reaction of a foreigner to these parts is one of utter shock and revulsion. This paper will look into the anthropology of the displayed carcasses and find out the reasons behind such. Whether such a display is for functional reasons alone, or has leanings of aestheticism in it will be discussed. Finally it will conclude by looking beyond the displays into the politics of the social milieu.