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Bowstring winter
It was the code of friendship. Like a tight. Like an straight.' When John Dkhar arrives at Kaizang restaurant, Shillong, one cold November evening, he has no premonition that his life is about to change forever. A loner by nature, and the very epitome of culture and refinement, John comes across people he will soon be involved with in a deadly game of passion and hatred, trust and James Kharlukhi, tough and uncompromising, a leader born with a lust for danger; Jennifer d'Santos, companion to James, whose love for John can only lead to tragedy; Charlie, aloof, enigmatic, and cursed with an ugly face which might prove to be his undoing; and Dor Kharkongor, ace archer, the spirit of the hills, caught between single-minded loyalty to James and paternal affection for John. Set against the lush landscape of ShiIlong, Dhruba Hazarika's tale of revenge and violence brilliantly evokes the sights and smells of North-East India while narrating a dynamic tale which addresses the universal themes of friendship, loyalty and the inherent loneliness of man.
Paperback
Published May 9, 2006
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About the author
Dhruba Hazarika
6 books5 followersDhruba Hazarika hails from Assam, North-Eastern State in India. He writes in English. He is the author of novels 'A Bowstring Winter' & 'Sons of Brahma' and 'Luck', a collection of short stories. A founder-member of the North-East Writers’ Forum, he is a recipient of the Katha Award for creative fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 4, 2011
A labour of love by Dhruba Hazarika. The book might prove for a drab read for someone who has not lived in Shillong or is unknown to the ways of the quaint city. For Shillong lovers, one another book to cuddle up with and get nostalgic about Shillong.
March 26, 2020
About friendship, passion, hatred and the game of teer in Meghalaya
[In the second week of December 2019, I went to Meghalaya for the first time. I was mesmerized by the curvy roads, the sky touching hills, the deep valleys, the cool weather, and lush landscape. In our four day tour we stayed in Shillong, Sohra, Dawki.
While travelling the things that I noticed was: momos (their size and flavor) pork (the abundant shop along the roadside) and “archery counter” (the counters with number hanging on the outside). At first I thought it to be simply a sport. But then I came to know that it is a business that involves a lot of money and power. And then when I started reading this book in January I came to know how this game of “teer” (archery) runs in that state of Meghalaya (however it also runs in many other parts of our country)]
“It was the code of friendship. Like a bowstring: tight. Like an arrow: straight”
The story is divided into three parts according to the months of winter ( November, December and January) and involves around how John Dhkar, (a professor of political science) gets attached with James Kharlukhi(a tough leader who ruled over this game of teer in the story) ,Dor Kharkongor(an ace archer and friend of James Kharlukhi) , Jennifer d’Santos( love interest of James Kharlukhi) and Charlie (an ugly faced guy who was a competitor to James in the game of “teer”) and finds himself involved in the deadly game of passion and hatred.
The lush landscape of Meghalaya, especially Shillong is so well depicted in the book that one can visualize it. The narrative was poetic but at some points boring because of repeated dialogues.
However the things that attracts you to the book is that one cannot define which character is good and which is bad until one reads the last page, the ending where the justice is rightly served, completing the circle of karma.
This tale of revenge, passion and violence brilliantly evokes the essence of winter and North-East India.
follow my reviews on fictions from all the states of India on Facebook @acommonindianreader
[In the second week of December 2019, I went to Meghalaya for the first time. I was mesmerized by the curvy roads, the sky touching hills, the deep valleys, the cool weather, and lush landscape. In our four day tour we stayed in Shillong, Sohra, Dawki.
While travelling the things that I noticed was: momos (their size and flavor) pork (the abundant shop along the roadside) and “archery counter” (the counters with number hanging on the outside). At first I thought it to be simply a sport. But then I came to know that it is a business that involves a lot of money and power. And then when I started reading this book in January I came to know how this game of “teer” (archery) runs in that state of Meghalaya (however it also runs in many other parts of our country)]
“It was the code of friendship. Like a bowstring: tight. Like an arrow: straight”
The story is divided into three parts according to the months of winter ( November, December and January) and involves around how John Dhkar, (a professor of political science) gets attached with James Kharlukhi(a tough leader who ruled over this game of teer in the story) ,Dor Kharkongor(an ace archer and friend of James Kharlukhi) , Jennifer d’Santos( love interest of James Kharlukhi) and Charlie (an ugly faced guy who was a competitor to James in the game of “teer”) and finds himself involved in the deadly game of passion and hatred.
The lush landscape of Meghalaya, especially Shillong is so well depicted in the book that one can visualize it. The narrative was poetic but at some points boring because of repeated dialogues.
However the things that attracts you to the book is that one cannot define which character is good and which is bad until one reads the last page, the ending where the justice is rightly served, completing the circle of karma.
This tale of revenge, passion and violence brilliantly evokes the essence of winter and North-East India.
follow my reviews on fictions from all the states of India on Facebook @acommonindianreader
May 3, 2021
'A Bowstring Winter' is a beautiful tale of love, treachery, friendship, vengeance and loyalty. This probably isn't a story that stands out or remains with you forever, but I would still want people to read this because it portrays complicated human relations splendidly and leaves you with a lot to think about.
Also, once you start this book, you will find yourself in Shillong - travelling through its lush green valleys in bone-chilling winters, wanting to eat the delectable cuisine and watching its much loved game 'Teer'
Also, once you start this book, you will find yourself in Shillong - travelling through its lush green valleys in bone-chilling winters, wanting to eat the delectable cuisine and watching its much loved game 'Teer'
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews