Makum, rita chowdhury creates a riveting tale of migration, loss and identity that spans across india and china. When it comes to writing, ones pen should be free and liberated, said director of national book trust nbt, dr rita chowdhury. Chinatown days makam is one of her bestknown works. A story of pain, struggles, suffering and multiple tragedies of chinese people who had stayed across in india during indo china war time in 1962.
The deportation of chineseorigin people from assam in the sixties, that inspired awardwinning writer rita chowdhury s novel makam, has caught the attention of the reel world several renowned directors from bollywood have contacted chowdhury to make films on her novel to highlight a chapter that went almost unrecorded in history. Rita chowdhury is a noted assamese writer, activist and the director of. But the horrible time were ahead as china attacked india in 1962. Chinatown days by rita chowdhury outlook traveller. By acknowledging the injustice done to the chineseassamese people at makam, can we begin the process of making amends. Rita chowdhurys gripping story of the chinese community in upper assam gives the insider version of the. Assam has a rich cultural heritage, wheather it is about assamese literature or assamese movies. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Rita chowdhury is a noted assamese writer, activist and the director of national book trust of india. The novel, by awardwinning writer rita chowdhury, documents the struggles, suffering, and tragedies of the chinese assamese over the past two centuries. Assamese writer rita chowdhury to speak at jaipur literary. Deo langkhui the divine sword,an epochmaking assamese novel.
It should not be mistaken for makum pathar, the place near digboi where, crude oil was first struck in asia. Makam, which means golden horse in cantonese, is a fictionalized historical account of the chinese assamese people in northeast india. Assamese of chinese origin facing severe identity crisis leong lin chi, who lives in makum in assams tinsukia district, was only six years old when she got separated from her parents who were deported to china in 1962. Prior to that, chowdhury had worked as lecturer from 1991 to 1996 and as senior lecturer from 1996 to 2001 in the same college. Continued from page 1awardwinning author rita chowdhury has written a book makam highlighting the plight of the assamesechinese community. Rita chowdhury born 17 august 1960 is an indian poet, novelist and sahitya akademi award recipient in the world of assamese literature. Makam, the name of rita chowdhury s novel that first appeared in her native assamese in 2010, means golden horse in chinese. Minuscule assamese chinese community never misses chance. At hong kong with overseas assamese chinese youtube.
Rita chowdhury is the author of makam, an assamese novel on the plight of assamese people of chinese origin you have reached your limit for free articles this month. In makam, the sahitya akademi award winner recounted the story of the deported chineseorigin population of makum. The name makum is derived from the word makam of chinese origin literally means meeting point. Assamese literature is rich with the contribution of great authors who have written some great assamese novel and their literary work is a treasure tr. After her successful novel deo langkhui the divine sword based on a. I wanted the people to know about the ordeal of these people. It galloped its way to fame soon after it was published. Books, images, historic newspapers, maps, archives and more. They married to different communities and settled down in assam. Rita chowdhury s chinatown days is the untold tragic history of chinese settlers in assam. An eminent novelist cum poet of assam create a free. Silver screen aspires to immortalise makam directors vie. The english translation will no doubt reach a wider audience and bring to life a hitherto.
Buy makam by rita chowdhury from waterstones today. It took me around four years to research the novel and write. Assamese of chinese origin facing severe identity crisis. Rita chowdhury born 17 august 1960 is an indian poet, novelist and sahitya akademi award. Rita chowdhury, now one of assams bestselling authors and winner of the sahitya akademi award two years ago, not only went on to learn about that little community, but unearthed a sad, forgotten and largely unknown story about its forced displacement during the 1962 indochina war. Says author rita chowdhury, who has done extensive research on the subject, most.
Its name, meaning golden horse in chinese, comes from the settlers brought here by the british to start tea gardens with the seeds and the. Makam, another novel by rita chowdhury, that has done very well is not. Rita chowdhurys interview for international womens. Makam rita chowdhury deo langkhui a shahitya akademy award wining novel. The book is an outstanding example of real friendship, the pure bond between a teacher and student, and also depicts various social issues focusing on child labour. Makam and chinatown days, dr chowdhury said although she started. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. It is the meeting point of three premier towns of upper assam namely tinsukia. Rita chowdhury, one of the renowned writers of assam adopts the second method. Deo langkhui a shahitya akademy award wining novel an.
As of today we have 85,829,665 ebooks for you to download for free. Chinatown days by rita chowdhury is the english translation of makam. A story of pain, struggles, sufferings and mutiple tragedies of chinese people across in india during indo china war time in 1962. We use cookies to offer you a better experience, personalize content, tailor advertising, provide social media features, and better understand the use of our services. She has been working as an associate professor in cotton college, guwahati, assam in political science department since 2001. But after the 1962 indiachina war, they were sent to a detention camp in deoli in rajasthan so that they do not work as spies, says sahitya akademiwinning writer rita chowdhury, who has. The novel, by awardwinning writer rita chowdhury, documents the struggles, suffering, and tragedies of the chinese assamese over the past two centuries, culminating in their wrongful expulsion from india during the 1962 sinoindian war. Makam, the name of rita chowdhurys novel that first appeared in her native assamese in 2010, means golden horse in chinese.
View or download all content the institution has subscribed to. Rita chowdhury s novel chinatown days published as makam in assamese in 2010 and translated recently into english by the author spans several generations of a chinese community that was. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. An important voice in contemporary assamese literature, rita has written fifteen novels that portray a vivid picture of her strifetorn state. The kashmir monitor provides the most comprehensive coverage and uptotheminute news, breaking news, feature stories, videos, information on kashmir, politics, cricket and more. Tezpur, may 11 when it comes to writing, your pen should be free and liberated, said dr rita chowdhury, sahitya akademi awardee and the director of national book trust while speaking at an art and literary festival named arnaswat on thursday. The noted author, who rose to fame with works such as deo langkhui the divine sword, makam the golden horse, will grace the occasion. Rita chowdhury is an energetic and empathetic storyteller amitav ghosh.
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