‘Riverside Stories’: This book of writings from Assam gives space to marginalised voices and themes

Given the sheer volume of writing published in Assam, in Assamese, Bodo and English, it may seem somewhat surprising that Riverside Stories: Writings from Assam is only the sixth in the series of literatures from India’s North-Eastern states published by Zubaan. Writings from the state, in English or translation, have received a fair share of attention in recent times, and one can recall at least a couple of excellent collections of short stories from Assam being published in the last couple of years.

However, this offering is like no other one has read recently, and offers a great diversity of writings in a wide range of genres, ranging from the more conventional such as the short story to more contemporary ones such as graphic narratives and wonderful reproductions of art and illustrations. Thematically, given the centrality of identity politics in Assam, the issue of identity duly finds resonance in this collection as well. But where it surpasses most collections is in how effectively the diversity of the Assamese people and their voices find expression in this volume. This collection does not write about representation – it is representative, and the subaltern speaks fluently and powerfully.

Walking the talk

In the introduction, the editor writes how, all this time,...

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