The Partings (Xeuji Pator Kahini)

The original Assamese novel, Xeuji Pator Kahini of which this is the English translation was first published in 1954. Set in pre-independence Assam, the story juxtaposes the morally oppressive life in a typical Assamese Village and the life of the Tea garden workers, which even if marvelously free from the moral pretensions of a small village community, is harsh and unrelenting Nareswar, the oursider from the village, finds” meaning “ in the free fun loving ways of the “Coolie” and the mercurial Sonia, illegitimate daughter of a white “ Manager” and a young “Coolie” girl is the unfailing critical eye which sees through all human deceptions. This is the story of love between Nareswar and Sonia woven into the extraordinarily rich texture of life in a tea garden.

Birinchi Kumar Barua (1910-1964): The real author of the novel used the pseudonym Rasna Barua for this, the second of the two novel that he wrote. His first novel was jivanar Batat (on the Highway of life). Barua was a very distinguished scholar of Sanskrit and Pali and served on the faculty of Gauhati University for a long time. His two novels are considered to be among the most outstanding works of fiction in the history of Assamese literature.

Mrinal Miri: The translator is a well known philosopher. He was educated in Cambridge University and has several Philosophical Books to his credit. This is his first attempt at transltion. Currently he is Vice Chancellor, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong.