SHILLONG, Feb 13: Dibakar Purkayastha’s new book Socially Distanced was formally launched on Saturday by Padma Shri Patricia Mukhim, Editor of The Shillong Times, in the presence of other dignitaries.
The national virtual launch of the book witnessed the participation of panellists and booklovers from across the country.
This is the author’s third novel in English, the first two being Log out North East India and Mystery at New Delhi 10/15. Purkayastha is registered as an author in the Washington Library Congress in Washington DC, USA. He is also the recipient of the Byatikram Literary Award 2016.
Speaking at the launch, Purkayastha said, “The story narrates the biography of an Indian Muslim who was born in the penultimate decade of the last century and who could not grow into manhood because he was born as a member of the most wretched eunuch commune, known as hijra in the Indian subcontinent.”
In her address, Patricia Mukhim said that Purkayastha’s book deals with a very important issue that our society is mostly unaware of. She said she was overwhelmed by the plight of the protagonist of the book, Aamin, and unknowingly teardrops dropped from her eyes while reading the book. She felt that every conscious person should read this book.
Arpana Choudhury (Luku), based at Tezpur, Assam, who is an activist for securing the rights of the marginal sections of the society in general and for the LGBTQIA communities in particular, delivered an illuminating talk on the issue that not only gave a vivid picture about the plight and problems of this marginalised section of the society but also provoked the participants to change their general outlook about this community.
Incidentally, Arpana is the first Assamese to be included in the Forbes India “30 Under 30 List” for being one of the most influential young personalities of India.
The book’s formal launch was followed by reading of excerpts from the book, done by Ankita, an MNC professional with degree in Computer Science and Engineering.
Monotosh Chakravarty, Vice Principal of St. Edmunds College, Shillong, and a former professor of English literature, said, “Purkayastha’s new book Socially Distanced is an honest attempt at depicting the life of a transgender, Aamin, who is out on a ‘quest for identity’, an identity that eludes to be his.”
Imad Uddin Bulbul, the well-known author and historian from Silchar Assam, lauded the invincible language and gory details that add to the strength of the novel.
Prof JB Bhattacharjee, former Vice Chancellor of Assam University Silchar, gave a historical perspective of the condition of the ‘hijra’ community right from the middle ages to present day, and felt that they deserved greater compassion and consideration from the society.