Publisher: M/s Banalata, Panbazar
Writer: Moushumi Kandali
Number of pages: 159
Price: Rs 70
Moushumi Kandali has received critical acclaim as a short story writer. Her Mockdrill , a collection of ten short stories, bears a distinct stamp of her creative expressions in a unique style of narration, so rare in Assamese literature. Her evocative and poetic language coupled with the contents make the stories worth reading. She gives vent to her anger and agony generated by the present dismal scenario of our society. The maturity of her Lambada Nasor Xexot is not missing in handling of her material.
She takes great pain to build the body of a story. Each story is well knit and enables the reader to discover different meanings and messages.
In Ra-banhar sikmikoni – Eta ganor kahini the writer exposes how the octopus-hug of modernism and globalisation has sucked the very essence of our traditional folk culture for commercial purpose, and how our yokels are duped by cultural plagiarists. Mockdrill unfolds why and how we have made a mockery of life itself- the story is symbolic and thought provoking. No evil, right from communalism to terrorism to exploitation has evaded the writers, and she tries to capture their impact in the form of stories; her social commitment is sincere and genuine.
Her canvas for Ambika Parba extends to the historical past. The portrayal of the slave girl Seva, once the daughter of the chieftain of an indigenous aboriginal clan is indeed heart-rending. The writer is optimistic; humanity and inhumanity, success and failure continue to go side by side and finally the man in man triumphs.
Kandali tries to explore the Indian heritage and draws certain parallels with the modern world. Certain values are still there which have not changed even after many centuries. We can refer to the first story of the collection, Ambika Parba , in this context.
The Shoes Must Go On shows that the victims of any plant carnage are from all strata in society. Many more things are there in the stories to sadden and stimulate any reader. It is an exceptionally strong voice; she deserves to be heard to understand the ugly reality of our contemporary world.
Mexwellor Daitya shows how the working class people have been subjected to any kind of exploitation for the interest of the manufacturer.
The title page with meaningful work of Punyasobin is captivating. No printer’s devil haunts the reader for which the publisher deserves kudos.
SYED MAHAMMAD MAHSHIN
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