Mamang Dai

This book by Mamang Dai is about two people - Kajinsha and Gimur. It is also about two French priests who wished to reach Tibet. The local people of another village murdered them and framed Kajinsha. The British moved into the hills of Arunachal Pradesh after this to avenge the murder. Kajinsha and Gimur may be fictional characters, but Mamang Dai brings them to life. Through telling a simple tale, she recreated Arunachal Pradesh as it was in the 1850s, with inter-village rivalry, the lives of the people, and their culture.

The book is a slow burn but is mesmerizing. Through the tale, she also brings another facet of the old life to light- the people's deep connection to the land.

Mamang Dai's book is brilliant. It is slow but it will pull you in.… (altro)