Social Movements in India: Poverty, Power, and Politics Book

This is (thus far) the best book I have read on goddess culture in India. It focuses only on West Bengal, an area well worth the focus due to it's famous connections with Kali and Durga worship (particularly the glamorous/large Durga Puja held there every year). West Bengal is also home to the culturally significant Dakshineshwar Kali temple (which is connected with Ramakrishna, a very influential religious/cultural figure who is well known for blending Kali worship with the more mainstream Bhakti Yoga philosophy).
This book covers practically every possible representation of goddess worship to be found in this area of the world....topics range from indigenous Adivasi folk traditions, medieval Tantric practices, more modern (*ahem* "socially acceptable") Bhakti/Vaishnav influenced and New Age paths.
I particularly enjoyed the early chapters regarding folk and Tantric paths. In the modern era where India has been putting a heavy focus on universalism (which often comes off as an attempt to neutralize all of it's cultures under a safe unified umbrella...with a heavy leaning towards western friendly patriarchal style religion) it is refreshing to see that individuality still thrives to some extent.