Man From Chinnamasta

by Indira Goswami

NA

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 28, 2006

About the author

Indira Goswami was an Indian author known by her pen name Mamoni Raisom Goswami and popularly as Mamoni Baideo

She was the winner of the Sahitya Akademi Award (1983), the Jnanpith Award (2001) and Principal Prince Claus Laureate (2008). A celebrated writer of contemporary Indian literature, many of her works have been translated into English from her native Assamese which include The Moth Eaten Howdah of the Tusker, Pages Stained With Blood and The Man from Chinnamasta.

Reviews

[Akshay]

‘The Man from Chinamasta’ by Indira Goswami is set around the Kamakhya Temple near Guwahati. It is believed that the Kamakhya temple in Assam is the most important among the Shaktipeeths since it was here Sati’s yoni fell on earth. The novel tracks the life of Chinnamasta Jatadhari, a hermit who spearheads a movement to curb animal sacrifice and tries to mobilise people around him to put an end to this cruel practice. The story follows the relationship of Dorothy Brown, a British woman in Assam and her relationship with a tantric saint at the Kamakhya Temple. There is also a parallel track of Ratnadhar and Bidhibala, with Ratnadhar trying to mobilise support by organising a signature campaign against the practice and the hurdles he encounters in the process.

Compassion and a humane touch are two striking aspects that can be observed in the novel. Indira Goswami weaves into the narrative the turbulent history of Assam including the defeat of the Ahom kings with the Mughals in the 17th century and the confrontation between the English forces and the Burmese at the end of the 18th century. The novel is interestingly set in the 1920s, where we see traditions and religious rituals coming into a direct confrontation with change and reform. Interestingly, this was the first time I read about the Ahom kings fought with the Mughals, which again highlights how little we know of Northeast India and its rich history.

The novel is an impassioned protest against animal sacrifices being performed at the Kamakhya temple. Chhinamasta Jatadhari, the protagonist of the novel, is constantly discussing Sanskrit scriptures and substantiates his demand of putting an end to animal sacrifice by quoting from Devi Bhagavatham, Yogini Tantra and Kalika Purana. It is hard to overlook the passion and the hard work that Ms. Goswami has put in order to produce a literary work of this kind.

The novel is particularly appealing for its vivid imagery. It begins by invoking the Brahmaputra, the river of Assam and it proceeds to describing the profusion of shiuli, kendur, outenga, ashoka and khokan, some prominent flowers and plants that contribute to the rich ecosystem in the Nilachal Hills. The novel is drenched with highly evocative sentences which convey the beauty of the landscape, almost making it a visual. The spirited translation from Asomiya conveys the rich imagery in the novel effectively.

[Vikas Akalwadi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Novel, set in British India provides picturesque description of Brahmaputra, Assam and Kamakhya Peetha. With great passion, important events in the history of Assam have been narrated. Description of various types of dresses from different regions of North East, socio-economical conditions of different people, how the orthodoxy and modern educated youth, wanted to bring changes in the tradition under the guidance of Jatadhari, yet remaining firmly devoted to Goddess Kamakhya is very impressive. I would have thought the arguments against animal sacrifice in temples in general and against non-vegetarianism would have been dealt with in great detail and with deep philosophical arguments - but seems like author purposely deals on these topics from emotional angle alone and quite effectively. Novel is interspersed with invocations to different forms of Mother Goddess, Bagala, Gowri etc., and am sure it would have added great value in building the right atmosphere in the minds of reader in original Assamese. I would recommend this novel !!

[Vandna · Rating 4 out of 5]

छिन्नमस्ता उपन्यास में कामाख्या मंदिरक्षेत्र मेंअंधविश्वासों के कारण व्याप्त बलि प्रथा का जीवंत चित्रांकन है ।इसकी भाषा और शैली इतनी अधिक चित्रात्मक है कि पढ़ते-पढ़ते सारे दृश्य आंखों के सामने प्रत्यक्ष होते हैं ।

[Ankush Samant · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Kamakhaya temple has always been alluring and mysterious to me. I studied for 4 years in Guwahati, Assam. I would cross the temple on my way to the city from my college. And every time there was a pull that got in me in there and once I was in there there was always a pull to know more about it. Even after reading some accounts of text around this temple, I was never satiated. However, Indira Goswami's book finally did quench some of my thirst. There are some eye opening details intertwined in the story presented in this book. The struggle of India for freedom, the wariness towards Gandhian philosophy, the brutishness of British raj, the awareness of the new educated middle class and the rootedness of the age-old myths - everything comes towards in this simple story of a man from Chinnamasta.

Must read!

[Chrysanthemum · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offers a glimpse into life in Assam, India. Where tensions rise between the British and Indians, as well as between those who wish to sacrifice animals to their goddess and those who wish to put an end to it, calling for flowers to be offered instead. This story is at times heartwarming and others tragic. One of the main characters is a powerful woman who stands up for herself and embraces the native culture, and I enjoyed following her part of the story. Overall I really enjoyed this book. It held my attention well, and always kept me wondering what would happen next. The ending leaves a lot to think about, and didn't go exactly as I would have thought, so this doesn't quite reach 5 stars but 4 is still very solid and an easy recommendation from me if the synopsis sounds interesting to you.

[Sanjukta Banerjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A poignant tale of a movement against animal sacrifice at Kamakhya temple, Assam. Depicted in all its vividness, through use of dazzling metaphors, bring each incident alive to the reader, forcing her to live it vicariously. The tug of war between the in British Empire and the deep rooted Indian religious culture adds a historical dimension to the work which otherwise is poised on the verge of surrealism. Overall a very gripping read.

[Sneha · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book is written by Mamoni Raisom Goswami.. which is spelt wrongly here.
she is also known by her nom de plume Indira Goswami
from_search=trueIndira Goswami

[Manish · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thrilling tale of a runaway British Memsahib's affair with a tantric mystic set against the backdrop of the agitation against animal slaughter in the Kamakhya temple of Assam in the early 1920's.