Mereng

by Anuradha Sharma Pujari

470 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Anuradha Sharma Pujari (অনুৰাধা শৰ্মা পূজাৰী) is an influential Assamese journalist and author. She is the editor of Sadin and Satsori. Her contributions to Assamese literature include fiction and essays. Her first novel is Hriday Ek Bigyapan, which became popular among the youth of Assam.

Reviews

[Namrata · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful read! Simple language yet so touching. I found it extremely informative and think this book should be read by every Assamese. Such progressive thinking that it will surprise you!

[Jyotsna]

I want to read

[Scientia Assamese Books & Bengali Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://www.scientiabooks.in/product/...

মেৰেং : অনুৰাধা শৰ্মা পূজাৰী
Mareng
Author: Anuradha Sarma Pujari
Language: Assamese
Publisher: Banalata
Rs: 300

[Natasha Borah · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Mereng" is a fictionalized biography of Indira Miri, a educationist from North East India. She is known for her efforts to promote education in the North East Frontier Agency (NEFA). NEFA is today's Arunachal Pradesh. She is the recipient of Padma Shri,the fourth highest civilian award. Mereng is Indira's pet name. The story follows Mereng's life from 1910 to 2010 and throws light on the Assamese society and the lives of ethnic communities in NEFA. It is written in Assamese, my mother tongue.

I loved the detailed narration and imagery. And I absolutely loved the persona of Mereng's father, Sonadhar Senapati. He was way ahead of his time in his thoughts, vision and actions. When the rest of the country thought nothing beyond getting their daughters married, Senapati educated his daughter in Kolkata. He gave her wings and always pushed her to go beyond ordinary. He emphasised on the importance of education relentlessly and believed rightly that education alone can eradicate all social problems and backwardness. If every child, especially daughters, have a father like him, this world will be such a wonderful place.

Indira Miri is a woman of extraordinary grit and courage. The way she led a group of teachers in NEFA to educate the ethnic communities after India attained independence in 1947 is commendable and worthy of a high place in Indian history. Crossing high rivers, travelling through thick jungles, confronting wild animals and all kinds of insects, facing treacherous roads and weather, coaxing locals towards education, ignoring threats to their lives, Indira and her group of teachers and officials did it all. Teachers back then were truly made of different clay and they could sacrifice the comforts of life so easily for the sake of their profession.

I hope someone translates this book to English, so that it can reach an universal audience and Indira's story and experiences deserve to be shared far and wide.