Over one million people in India contract tuberculosis (TB) annually, making it a significant public health issue, as the country represents nearly 30% of global TB cases and a substantial portion of deaths. The prevalence of TB highlights unmet development goals and raises critical questions about postcolonial governance. Drawing on extensive ethnographic research in a North Indian village grappling with TB, Andrew McDowell shares the experiences of marginalized Dalit farming families affected by the disease, alongside the various caregivers, including nurses, doctors, and traditional healers. Each chapter explores a specific material or metaphorical substance—such as dust, clouds, and ghosts—to illustrate how breath and airborne illness intertwine biological and social realities within daily acts of care. Through these narratives, McDowell develops a philosophy of breathing that encompasses medical systems, patient care, and health justice. He posits that breath serves as a vital intersection between individuals and their environments, offering insights into public health and social inequality. Ultimately, the work examines the complex relationships that breath creates among people, their surroundings, social contexts, and microbes.
