The national online launch of Dibakar Purkayastha’s new book “Socially Distanced” took place on Saturday with participation of panellists and booklovers from across the country.
The book was formally launched by editor of The Shillong Times, Patricia Mukhim.
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 also the recipient of the Byatikram Literary Award 2016. Speaking at the launch, he said that the book is about the story of an Indian born in the 1990s 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.”
Arpana Choudhury (Luku), based in Tezpur, Assam, who is an activist for securing the rights of marginal sections of 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 society but also provoked the participants to change their general outlook about this community.
The formal launch was followed by reading of excerpts from the book.
Monotosh Chakravarty, Vice Principal of St Edmund’s College, Shillong, and a former professor of English literature, said, “Purkayastha’s new book is an honest attempt at depicting the life of a transgender, Aamin, who is out on a ‘quest for identity’, an identity that eludes him.”
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 Dr 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 society.
Mukhim, while making the concluding remarks, said that the 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 tears fell from her eyes while reading the book.
