Author Samrat Chaudhary recalls his journey along Brahmaputra

Tribune News Service
Amritsar, July 10

Author Samrat Chaudhary interacted with writer Mitra Phukan in a web session hosted by Majha House here on Saturday, discussing Chaudhary’s latest book The Braided River. The book is a stirring and true account of Samrat’s several journey down the Brahmaputra river.

Introducing the book and the writers, Preeti Gill, founder, Majha House, said, “This is a marvellous travelogue but it goes much beyond that single genre as it talks about many other human issues. Class conflict, caste conflict, nationality issues, you name it and the book has it.”

Highlighting the various issues the book talks about, Mitra said although the book is full of adventures and escapades, it is political in nature as it forwards people’s points of view about life and what they feel about the political turmoil they are facing; it is historical too as it traces history of wars, and how the waterways developed and how they were used.

Samrat said the Brahmaputra had different significance, when intertwined with other rivers and tributaries. “Brahmaputra as Brahmaputra exists only in Assam; it has a different name in other countries passes through: it is Tsangpo in Tibet, Siang in Arunachal Pradesh and Jamuna in Bengal. Before we crossed over into Arunachal Pradesh, I had to leave the river and hitch random lifts in trucks or Sumos or whatever other mode was available, and since it was the monsoon season, the roads were hardly existent and we all got tossed about like clothes in a washing machine,” recalled Samrat.

Talking about the political nuances in the book, Samrat said he was in the Upper Assam when the NPR was announced by the government. “I witnessed confusion, anger and fear experienced by the people. At once, after the announcement, I could see that an invisible divide came to exist between people. There was a strong sense of ‘us’ and ‘them’. It was sad to see people’s apprehensions and how unsure they were of their future,’ said Samrat.

Likening his journey on the river to the journey of life, Samrat said that as you travel you learn new things which add to your perception and you also learn to shed, to discard old ideas and notions which previously were holding you back. “It is a very life-enhancing experience. I also believe that when you travel using very basic modes you end up learning much more than you would if you fly and land in a five-star hotel. Only when you travel like the common people do, only when you converse with them, share with them – their language, their foods, the problems they face – that you stand to grow as a person,’ opined Samrat.