Meet dr rita chowdhury assamese author and director of national book trust of india nehal jain march 07, 2018 15. Thanks to ranbir for sharing this information with us. Apr 09, 2018 however, in makam, rita chowdhury explained about coercive migration, which occurred in the 19th century, and thus, those laborers who migrated might have no other choices rather than settling down wherever they found a comfortable living. Born at nampong in tirap district of arunachal pradesh, dr rita chowdhury holds masters degree in political science as well. Rita chowdhurys compelling historical novel, chinatown days, is about a. Rita chowdhury, director of the national book trust, india, was an associate professor of political science, department of political science, cotton college, guwahati. The book makam by rita chowdhury is about a painful story of chinese assamese across assam the story of makam meaning golden horse in chinese depicts the chinese origin people who were brought to india by the british for the tea plantation.
Dr rita chowdhury, author of a book on indochinese, speaks. Authored and translated by rita chowdhury, it was originally published in 2010, in assamese under the name makam, after makum, the little town of assam and home to a thriving. 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. An important voice in contemporary assamese literature, rita has written fifteen novels that portray a vivid picture of her strifetorn state. Rita chowdhurys expansive novel, chinatown days published as makam in assamese in 2010 and translated into english by the author took me.
Jan 14, 2019 makam, the name of rita chowdhurys novel that first appeared in her native assamese in 2010, means golden horse in chinese. Rita chowdhury has resigned from the post of director of national book trust nbt updating her facebook post as i am assamese moi axomiya. Indian overseas chinese from assam at hong kong with rita. Rita chowdhurys makam throws a light on the aftermaths of. 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. Combining research on the migration of chinese to india in the eighteenth century and the 1962 sinoindian war, along with details of everyday lives of the community in a small town in upper assam, makum, rita chowdhury creates a riveting tale of migration, loss and identity that spans across india and china. Rita chowdhury for bringing our story to the world, as the host of the gathering introduces her. Chinese diaspora in assam face political and cultural. Dr rita chowdhury, author of a book on indochinese. 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. Originally published in assamese, in 2010, under the title makam. Written by sahitya akademiwinning assamese author rita chowdhury, the book is the muchawaited english translation of her original assamese novel makam, published in 2010 a sprawling work of. Makam, the name of rita chowdhury s novel that first appeared in her native assamese in 2010, means golden horse in chinese.
Chinatown days is the english translation of chowdhury s superbly acclaimed assamese novel, makam. This is why a book like chinatown days is vastly important. Rita chowdhury is an awardwinning assamese poet and writer. Rita chowdhurys chinatown days is the untold tragic history of. Makam, the name of rita chowdhury s novel that first appeared in her native assamese in 2010, means golden horse in. Oct 01, 2012 makam, which means golden horse in cantonese, is a fictionalized historical account of the chinese assamese people in northeast india. Assam has a rich cultural heritage, wheather it is about assamese literature or assamese movies. Rita chowdhury is a noted assamese writer, activist and the director of national book trust of india. Its name, meaning golden horse in chinese, comes from the settlers brought here by the. It galloped its way to fame soon after it was published. Rita chowdhury s chinatown days is the untold tragic history of chinese settlers in assam. She said, deo langkhui is based mostly around oral traditions. Rita chowdhury resigns as national book trust nbt director.
Rita chowdhurys novel chinatown days goes on sale at world. Makam, which means golden horse in cantonese, is a fictionalized historical account of the chinese assamese people in northeast india. Rita chowdhury has resigned from the post of director of national book trust nbt. Rita chowdhurys chinatown days is the untold tragic. Makam, zubaan books by rita chowdhury 9789381017654 booktopia. However, in makam, rita chowdhury explained about coercive migration, which occurred in the 19th century, and thus, those laborers who migrated might have no other choices rather than settling down wherever they found a comfortable living. The book, as chowdhury says through her protagonist bora, was a challenge.
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. Rita chowdhurys novel chinatown days goes on sale at. Causing a landslide of curiosity and awe, when it was first published in 2010. Rita chowdhury s interview for international womens day. Dr chowdhury s oeuvre include makam, a poignant portrayal of assamese indian community of. I decided to write a novel about it because the subject and its history moved me.
Rita chowdhury is a noted assamese writer, activist and the director of national book. Rita chowdhurys expansive novel, chinatown days published as makam in assamese in 2010 and translated into english by the author. Makam, the name of rita chowdhurys novel that first appeared in her native assamese in 2010, means golden horse in chinese. The narratives in a widely acclaimed contemporary axomiya historical novel by rita chowdhury makam call for a reflection today. Aug 14, 2015 makam, which means golden horse in cantonese, is a fictionalized historical account of the chinese assamese people in northeast india. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. Dr rita chowdhury, author of a book on indochinese, speaks to. The novel, by awardwinning writer rita chowdhury, documents the struggles, suffering, and tragedies of the chinese assamese over the past two centuries. She takes over from dr m a sikandar, following his repatriation to the university of delhi on completion of his deputation. Nov 27, 2010 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.
This incident occurred after she posted moi axomiya i am assamese on her facebook page on wednesday, january 9. Rita chowdhurys interview for international womens. Chinatown days by rita chowdhury outlook traveller. Makam, zubaan books by rita chowdhury 9789381017654. Over 100 interviews went into the book, and chowdhury found that few people were willing to talk about their experiences for fear of bringing. Explore books by rita chowdhury with our selection at.
Silver screen aspires to immortalise makam directors vie. Meet dr rita chowdhury assamese author and director of. Makam is a fictionalised account by sahitya akademi awardee rita chowdhury of the strugglers, sufferings and tragedies of the chinese assamese in the past two centuries. A former associate professor at cotton university, rita is currently the director of the national book trust, india. Prior to that, chowdhury had worked as lecturer from 1991 to 1996 and as senior lecturer from 1996 to 2001 in the same college.
Buy makam by rita chowdhury from waterstones today. The book makam by rita chowdhury is about a painful story of chinese assamese across assam. 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. Jan 11, 2018 dr rita chowdhury, author of a book on indochinese, speaks to. Chowdhury has channeled the histories of four generations of chineseassamese immigrants who had made themselves a home in the town of makam in a remote. They married to different communities and settled down in assam. Rita chowdhury for bringing our story to the world, as the host of the gathering introduces her in presence of more than three hundred indian born chinese.
In it, she exposes the confusion, betrayal, and aggression against india that still haunt the chinese with assamese roots, regardless of where. Rita chowdhury for her recent release of her book makam, that revolves around the untold miserable stories of assam born chinese. Chowdhury however has not made public the reason for her resignation. Chinatown days traces the 200yearlong history of the arrival of the chinese in india as indentured labour and their forced departure during the sinoindia war. She has been working as an associate professor in cotton college, guwahati, assam in political science department since 2001. Rita chowdhurys gripping story of the chinese community in upper assam gives the insider version of the events of 1962. Rita was bestowed the prestigious sahitya akademi award for deo langkhui which she calls a novel of epic proportions about the glorious tiwa kingdom of assam. Rita chowdhury born 17 august 1960 is an indian poet, novelist and sahitya akademi award recipient in the world of assamese literature. Achetez neuf ou doccasion makam chowdhury, rita livres passer au contenu principal. Rita chowdhury s makam throws a light on the aftermaths of the sinoindia war. But the horrible time were ahead as china attacked india in 1962.
Nov 24, 2010 wellknown assamese novelist rita chowdhurys recent tome of a book, makam, links the two, hereby questioning the states role in painting a large number of people with the same brush of. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The ministry of human resource development yesterday cleared chowdhury s name as the next director of the nbt. The literatures on the chinese diaspora in assam are scanty. Writing on the wall by sanjoy hazarika, makam by rita chowdhury, a history of assam by edward albert gait, rendezvous w. Dr rita chowdhury joins as director, nbt 3 farewell to dr. Buy chinatown days book online at low prices in india. Chinatown days, the english translation of bestselling assamese novel maakam by assamese novelist rita choudhury, has gone on sale at world book. Two fictional works in assamese rita chowdhurys makam the golden horse, 2010 and arupa patangia kalitas felanee 2003, translated as the story of felanee 2011 have been in the news lately and are, in my opinion, among the most powerful literary works produced by the contemporary generation of. Rita chowdhurys 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.
The story of makam meaning golden horse in chinese depicts the chinese origin people who were brought to india by the british for the tea plantation. Makam is a fictionalised account by sahitya akademi awardee rita chowdhury of the strugglers, sufferings and tragedies of the chinese. Five new books to read in january and set the tone for the. The centre has appointed sahitya akademi awardwinning writer rita chowdhury as the director of the national book trust nbt. Buy makam book online at low prices in india makam. Makama painful story of indo chinese people stuti1s blog. Rita chowdhurys interview for international womens day. 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.
A story of pain, struggles, sufferings and mutiple tragedies of chinese people across in india during indo china war time in 1962. The book is an evocative tale of the brutality faced by chinese labourers who were brought to. Five new books to read in january and set the tone for. Being the author of the famous novel makam and many other books, she had faced several questions after her facebook post as the.
Join facebook to connect with rita chowdhury and others you may know. Mar 15, 20 makam, which means golden horse in cantonese, is a fictionalized historical account of the chinese assamese people in northeast india. Makam the golden horse in 2010 published by jyoti prakashan, guwahati. 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.
574 1217 1033 1035 1453 170 1162 1049 1304 521 973 1142 601 1472 1496 873 23 338 1560 410 569 1153 1039 1361 1246 807 213 121 291 964 237 156 1514 862 1146 817 236 1054 185 67