- Novanita Sharma
India’s East that comprises Assam and the 7 other states of Northeast India plays an important role in deciding our country’s economic and ecological security; the biodiversity rich Eastern India pulsating with some of the world’s most beautiful and globally significant forest areas is a treasure trove of natural resources for India. The remote eastern frontiers of our country with the wide expanse of Arunachal Pradesh are coveted destinations for wildlife and nature lovers from all over the world. At the same time the naturally rich Northeastern states of India play a crucial role in the cultural and political stability of our country. India’s East has contributed richly in the rise and evolution of the Indian civilization since the ancient days of Bharat. Historically, this region was represented as the ancient Kamrupa kingdom, an important seat of India’s ancient knowledge, religion, and wisdom. The ancient Kamrupa had a wide geographical expanse, with parts of Bhutan, Tibet, Nepal, Bangladesh, West Bengal, and the whole of present-day Assam being part of it. But despite this rich natural, cultural, and historical heritage, the world knows very less about India’s eastern states, and amongst all the least about the easternmost frontier state of Arunachal Pradesh. The astounding beauty, history, and richness of Arunachal Pradesh remains shrouded behind the mystery clouds due to lack of documentation. This is partly attributed to the rugged terrain and the wide geographic area of Arunachal Pradesh comprising of Eastern Himalayan mountainous regions which makes travelling across the state difficult and time consuming. An accessible way to learn and know about this exotic Himalayan region of India is to read good books written by knowledgeable travellers who cared to share their insights and travel experiences with the world through their travelogues. But then the absence of books on Arunachal Pradesh apart from English language is a big hurdle for many Indian citizens who prefer to read in the comfort and happiness of their own mother tongue.
There are very few books on Arunachal Pradesh in Indian languages. In this regard, the travel books written by Sri. Soumyadeep Datta on Arunachal Pradesh in Assamese language occupies a special place in the genre of travel literature in Indian language, for his books are perhaps the most informative, analytical writings marked with a wide range of topics that portrays the rich diversity of the people, their cultures, history, natural history, wildlife, geology, anthropology, and ethnic civilizations of Arunachal Pradesh. His books give rise to a rare sense of contentment, adventure, and inquisitiveness among the readers about the exhaustively diverse and exotic Arunachal Pradesh. An important and unmistakable aspect of these travelogues on Arunachal Pradesh by Sri. Datta is the predominant essence of insightful and purposeful nature-writing literature. He connects the readers with the conservation needs of different parts of Arunachal Pradesh, along with the vivid depictions of the impenetrable primitive forests sheltered in the solitude of eastern Himalayas through his evocative, and eloquent narrations found in these books. His travelogues on Arunachal Pradesh are priceless documents of nature writings, apart from being trailblazing narratives on the history, folklore, and geographic details regarding some of the remotest parts of Arunachal Pradesh. Many of these narratives are the first-time documentations regarding some of the most stunning natural treasures nestled among the unexplored parts of Arunachal Pradesh, in a way Sri. Soumyadeep Datta has unravelled many mysteries of this eastern frontier state of India in his travel stories. He brought the breathtaking natural beauty as well as the heartwarming world of the colourful people of Arunachal Pradesh closer to his readers. These books enriched with the scientific acumen of a wildlife conservationist, along with thrill of an adventurous traveller with keen observation recreates the immense diversity of Arunachal Pradesh with flawless lucidity. These are undeniably the best travelogues ever written on Arunachal Pradesh. Bestowed with rich information and vivid narration, these hugely popular travelogues in Assamese language have played a key role in promoting tourism in Arunachal Pradesh. These books constitute the best capture of Arunachal Pradesh in printed form, presented with comprehensively analysed narratives of original thoughts from an intently philosophical traveller and committed changemaker who delves to carry forward the quest for greater intellectual, spiritual, and cultural discoveries through his Himalayan journeys in the least explored Arunachal Pradesh. His books have presented the huge tourism potential of Arunachal Pradesh, which can very well become an ideal world class eco – tourism destination in future. He shared valuable inputs from his experiences of imparting trainings to local people, and youth on formative knowledge of biodiversity conservation which is essential to train the local people for a responsible eco-tourism industry in Arunachal Pradesh. These books facilitate a constructive future by bridging the gap between the people of Arunachal Pradesh and the rest of the country.
As a book lover, a nature lover, an environment activist, and a well-wisher of Arunachal Pradesh; here I take the freedom to share a peek into few of the best works contributed to the world of Assamese Nature writing literature as well as the Assamese travel literature by Sri Soumyadeep Datta:
1. Aparupa Arunachal :
This collection of articles on Arunachal Pradesh, its natural and social aspects in the form of a travelogue is one of the widely accepted and loved travel book on Arunachal Pradesh in Assamese language till date.
First published in 2008 by Bhabani offset pvt. Ltd, five editions of this enthralling travel book have been published so far. This travelogue includes articles and narratives on Lohit valley, Dibang valley, Pasighat and adjoining areas. This book includes the travel experiences of the author amidst the wilderness of Namdapha National Park and Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary. This first of its kind travelogue on Arunachal Pradesh provides the readers an important documentation about the oral history of Pasighat area and vivid narratives about the Monpa area of Arunachal Pradesh. The book is enlivened with relevant pencil sketches.
‘Amazing Arunachal’, an English translation of this book was published in 2013, bringing the unforgettable travel stories of the author to the English readers as well.
‘Aparup Arunachal’, a Bengali translation of this book was published in 2023 by VISTAAR, Kolkata, thus making this unforgettable travel stories accessible to the Bengali language readers.
2. Barnil Arunachal:
First published in 2012 by Bhabani Offset pvt. Ltd, this travelogue on Arunachal Pradesh is an irresistible page turner. This travelogue is an important document on the Nocte tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. This book compiles rare information regarding Tirap and Changlang districts including the history and culture of this districts. This book also enthrals the readers with details regarding few of the remotest corners of Arunachal Pradesh like Mago – Thimbu, The Upper Monpa areas located in Indo – Tibetan border. Rare narratives about Zimithang area and the Nyamjanchu river Valley which was an old trade centre between ancient Kamrup and Tibet are published in this travelogue. It also carries in-depth and well researched narrative about the Siang valley and the eastern most frontier areas of India, like Geling and Tuting.
This book introduces the readers to the beautiful Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary and Mechuka valley, a treasured treat for the wildlife lovers and a valuable document of nature-writing literature.
3. Mohamoyee Arunachal:
First published in 2016 by Banalata, Dibrugarh, this is another very popular travelogue about Arunachal Pradesh which has been widely appreciated for its narration and contents. This travelogue takes the readers to many beautiful areas of Arunachal Pradesh along with a vivid description of the everyday life of the humble, warm hearted people of Arunachal Pradesh. This book includes engaging travelogues on Apatani valley, Nacho area and Donkho Mandala Phudung. It provides a rare window to the less known culture and day to day life of the Tagin and the Sherdukpen tribes of Arunachal Pradesh in their native places.
This book introduces the concepts of nature based tourism in Arunachal Pradesh, it outlines contents for training of the local youth and villagers for effective nature based tourism models. The Arunachal Pradesh Tourism department played a key role in organizing few trainings with the author as a resource person. Smt. Bangia Menna Sonam from Arunachal Pradesh tourism department took active part in organizing and execution of these trainings. This book provides informative first-hand account about these training modules for future reference.
4. Utbhashito Mayabon:
This forest-based travelogue by Sri Soumyadeep Datta was published in 2021 by Creative Design, Dibrugarh. This exceptional work of literature includes 367 pages of irresistible writings about the magical cosmos of forest and wilderness found amidst the thickets of Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh. This book is an absolute page turner for the nature lovers, it elucidates the amazing observations skills of the author, and his mastery in the nature writing literature which has been elevated to a different level with this unputdownable work of literature. This book is undeniably a benchmark in Assamese literature that set a unique trend in nature writing literature of India. The captivating poetic expression of the author put together with the objectivity of a lifelong wildlife conservationist has been most beautifully captured in this book. This book connects the world with the immense wilderness of Arunachal Pradesh. This is the latest contribution from one of Assam’s most acclaimed writers, and wildlife conservationist to the glory of the mesmerising Arunachal Pradesh.
Soumyadeep Datta, a true changemaker of the contemporary Assamese society has given new thoughts, ideals, and purpose to Assam through his work and literature. His irrevocable contributions in shaping and leading the biodiversity conservation movement of Assam since 1980s, his pathbreaking initiatives to connect the people of Assam belonging to a diverse ethnic framework with this regions ancient Buddhist roots and his rich contributions to Assamese literature set the dawn of a unique intellectual movement in Assam. He also led the growth of Assamese Nature-writing literature with his committed and purposeful writings that strengthened the nature conservation movement in Assam with his books, steering an active nature writing movement in Assam since 1980s. His work led to the advent of a well-defined genre of Assamese nature writings in the course of time. The contemporary nature writing refers to purposeful literature which prepares and motivates the readers to play an active role for nature conservation. It is centred on the cause of nature conservation. Nature writing requires personal commitment on part of the author to the cause of nature conservation. One must evolve from the state of a dormant nature lover to that of a nature activist to create nature writings. Nature writing requires a deeper understanding of the natural world and its appropriate reflection in the form of readable and relatable literature. It is impossible to separate nature writing from nature conservation. Soumyadeep Datta led Nature’s Beckon in spearheading the nature writing literature of Assam in the past four decades to strengthen the biodiversity conservation movement across the Assamese society, involving everyone from the intellectuals to the villagers, from the elites to the grassroots of Assamese society.
His books on Arunachal Pradesh have presented some of the best-known nature writing literature on Northeast India, these work echoes the immense natural wealth, cultural richness, and folk history of Northeast India in the form of travelogues. He has given a new direction to travelogue writing as well with his style of well researched and analysed travel writings that connects the political, ethnic, geological, and natural histories of the people and their lands with rest of the world. His writings motivate the readers to respect, and preserve these beautiful places, their cultures, and natural environments with utmost love and care. This also encourages young writers and explorers to go beyond the conventional thoughts, and opinions in discovering the amazing vistas of our cultural and natural richness which still hides in the seclusion of remote geographical locations across India. He tempts the thinker in young Indians to discover themselves through mindful explorations of their own country that tells stories of one of the oldest and philosophically rich human civilizations of this world. Sri. Datta’s work of literature are exceptional documents for changemaking and discovery, worth repeated reading, research, and exhaustive discussions amongst all to share the benefits from this work of literature with everyone.
