As the River Flows is a book of Assamese short stories translated and edited by journalist, fiction writer and award winning translator, Ranjita Biswas. The stories date from the 1950s to the present and trace the evolution of writing from way back then as well as the influence the pioneering writers wielded on the following generations who chose to react to life and express themselves in words.
The book begins with Kathanibari Ghat, a story by veteran writer Mohim Bora and this story is something of a masterpiece, narrating the journey of a young married woman being escorted by her brother and brother-in-law to meet her husband who has met with a fatal accident. As the three get on to a boat, before taking their bus to Jorhat, it emerges that the woman is not aware of what awaits her at the journey’s end.
There are many Sahitya Academy and Jnanpith award winners including Apurba Sarma, Arupa Patangia Kalita, the internationally famous Indira (Mamoni Raisom) Goswami, among others. A welcome move by the publishers.
As the River Flows translated
by Ranjita Biswas
HarperCollins Publishers
Rs.299