GUWAHATI, Dec 22 � The Aank Baak award for the best novel has been won by Tejimolar Makar Sadhu authored by Mridul Sarma, a faculty member of Kanoi College. The name of the winner was announced here today.
It needs to be mentioned here that Aank Baak had instituted this award to promote the genre of novel writing in the State, create the ambience for budding writers and ensure that readers were supplied with quality books that truly mirror the society and the State.
The award carries Rs 1 lakh, a memento and a citation. The winner will be presented the award at a function to be held on April 23, 2012.
The winner was selected by a jury comprising noted writers Harekrishna Deka, Apurba Sarma and Dr Hiren Gohain. In the opinion of Harekrishna Deka, Tejimolar Makar Sadhu has transcended the boundary of a folktale as the writer has successfully infused the realistic aspects of a rural life.
The story of Tejimola is very popular in the State and her stepmother particularly is one of the most widely interpreted characters in Assamese literature. The behaviour of the stepmother is always hyped and she has emerged as the symbol of cruelty. However, some have tried to portray the character of the stepmother in a different light, going into the details of complicated relationships and psyche, and Mridul Sarma is one of them. Sarma has made an effort to understand the stepmother from a humane angle.
The jury has mentioned two other novels, Sowa Pitambar Shyamboron Megh Ure by Jibon Narah and Neela Noi by Aparna Goswami for a memento and citation each.
Narah�s novel revolves round the dual cultural approach of a tribal community influenced by the teachings of Vaishnavism. On the other hand, Goswami�s novel is based on the situation of Adivasis in lower Assam in the wake of ethnic conflict in the 90s.
