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The Bronze Sword of Thengphakhri Tehsildar
The unforgettable story of a trailblazing woman, penned by one of India’s greatest literary luminaries.
Indira Goswami’s last work of fiction is the heroic tale of a freedom fighter who was, thought to be the first woman revenue collector, a tehsildar, in British India. Set in late 19th-century Assam, the novel paints with a majestic sweep the ever-changing landscape of Indian society.
Tehsildar is a fascinating character, recreated from folklore, from songs and stories passed down for generations. Her exploits, galloping across the plains of Bijni kingdom in lower Assam to collect taxes for the British, is a compelling one that inspires awe and admiration. At a time when educated Indians, social reformers and the British government were trying to fight misogynist practices such as sati, child marriage and the purdah system, Tehsildar was a woman working with the British officers, shoulder to shoulder, as a tax collector who shunned her society’s expectations.
Indira Goswami has woven a complex tale wherein the foundations of the colonial rulers were shaken by insurgents seeking freedom across Assam just before the rise of the Indian National Congress.
Indira Goswami’s last work of fiction is the heroic tale of a freedom fighter who was, thought to be the first woman revenue collector, a tehsildar, in British India. Set in late 19th-century Assam, the novel paints with a majestic sweep the ever-changing landscape of Indian society.
Tehsildar is a fascinating character, recreated from folklore, from songs and stories passed down for generations. Her exploits, galloping across the plains of Bijni kingdom in lower Assam to collect taxes for the British, is a compelling one that inspires awe and admiration. At a time when educated Indians, social reformers and the British government were trying to fight misogynist practices such as sati, child marriage and the purdah system, Tehsildar was a woman working with the British officers, shoulder to shoulder, as a tax collector who shunned her society’s expectations.
Indira Goswami has woven a complex tale wherein the foundations of the colonial rulers were shaken by insurgents seeking freedom across Assam just before the rise of the Indian National Congress.
- GenresIndia
101 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 26, 2013
4 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
Indira Goswami
27 books30 followersIndira 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.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 10, 2021
The guilt of not reading enough regional literature again lead me to another poorly translated work. And I rest my case!
June 1, 2015
From my blog: http://thegloballycurious.blogspot.in...
This is the last book by the well-regarded Assamese author Indira Goswami, known for her use of literature to advocate for social and political change. Drawing on the idea of a strong female character described in local Bodo folktales, Goswami demonstrates the importance of the Bodo people in the nationalist fight against the British colonialists and therefore in the formation of the Indian nation and the state of Assam (an important political statement due to the continued violence and calls for the creation of Bodoland as a separate state).
Tengphakhri is a tribal Bodo woman who was chosen to act as a Tehsildar, or tax collector, for the British in the late 1850s. Accompanied by her group of soldiers, she rode through the villages to collect taxes, using force if necessary. She has a close relationship with several of her British superiors, who she admires. When other British officers come to take over, leading to changes in policies, she is compelled to choose whether she wants to continue working with them or join the freedom movement.
The description of the character Tengphakhri is interesting. She is obviously a strong person, who can handle horses and do the duties required by her job. Like most women in fiction, "Her beauty and personality mesmerized everyone. They had just one complaint: why doesn't Tengphakhri speak?" She is mostly a silent character, and the story is told through descriptions of her sometimes ambivalent actions.
While this story is based on a folktale, it doesn't read like one. This is a flaw, in my opinion. The mostly emotionless descriptions of Tengphakhri's actions were not interesting to me. I did not enjoy this book for the story or the characters (who were disappointingly flat).
The only thing that seemed interesting to me is the way Goswami tried to use this book to protest against the violence in Assam related to the Bodoland movement. But because that was the purpose of this novel's existence, nationalist sentiments took center stage, stealing the focus from the characters and story. If you are interested in Assamese politics, especially the question of an independent Bodo state, you might find something in this book. If not, it's not really worth your time.
This is the last book by the well-regarded Assamese author Indira Goswami, known for her use of literature to advocate for social and political change. Drawing on the idea of a strong female character described in local Bodo folktales, Goswami demonstrates the importance of the Bodo people in the nationalist fight against the British colonialists and therefore in the formation of the Indian nation and the state of Assam (an important political statement due to the continued violence and calls for the creation of Bodoland as a separate state).
Tengphakhri is a tribal Bodo woman who was chosen to act as a Tehsildar, or tax collector, for the British in the late 1850s. Accompanied by her group of soldiers, she rode through the villages to collect taxes, using force if necessary. She has a close relationship with several of her British superiors, who she admires. When other British officers come to take over, leading to changes in policies, she is compelled to choose whether she wants to continue working with them or join the freedom movement.
The description of the character Tengphakhri is interesting. She is obviously a strong person, who can handle horses and do the duties required by her job. Like most women in fiction, "Her beauty and personality mesmerized everyone. They had just one complaint: why doesn't Tengphakhri speak?" She is mostly a silent character, and the story is told through descriptions of her sometimes ambivalent actions.
While this story is based on a folktale, it doesn't read like one. This is a flaw, in my opinion. The mostly emotionless descriptions of Tengphakhri's actions were not interesting to me. I did not enjoy this book for the story or the characters (who were disappointingly flat).
The only thing that seemed interesting to me is the way Goswami tried to use this book to protest against the violence in Assam related to the Bodoland movement. But because that was the purpose of this novel's existence, nationalist sentiments took center stage, stealing the focus from the characters and story. If you are interested in Assamese politics, especially the question of an independent Bodo state, you might find something in this book. If not, it's not really worth your time.
April 30, 2023
I try to walk into a book like this with an open mind. It is not my culture, it is not written in a style to appeal to an American reader. However, I could not get into this book. It did not feel like a complete story, there was not the through story line, there was poor character development. The author told us, rather than showed us what was happening. Or perhaps this was just a poor translation.
I get why this is important to Indian writing, and especially feminist Indian writing, but is was not a book for me.
I get why this is important to Indian writing, and especially feminist Indian writing, but is was not a book for me.
November 19, 2020
"Even if they have lost one war somewhere, they will definitely win the next one. They are the most powerful race in this whole world and their sun will never set because even the sun is imprisoned in their palms"
India has come a long way from the independence struggle in terms of equality, caste hierarchy and modernism. But one can't help but wonder what was the starting point of every revolution. Songs of people like Indira Gandhi, Jhansi ki Rani, Sarojini Naidu, have traveled far and wide.
This book narrates the story of Thengphakhri, the first female Tehsildar in the northeast region. It describes her journey from being a blindfolded employee of the company to a freedom fighter. The Bronze Sword, which everyone believes was gifted to her by the gods, became her symbol of defiance. Highly respected and looked upon, she was a role model for many generations.
The book was originally written in Assamese and while the story goes through an interesting plot, I can only assume that the writing was good in Assamese because the translation went awry.
Things I liked:
-beautiful representation of Assamese territory on environmental terms
-absolute relatability to the people of yore
-slight empowerment of women
-amazing imagery
Things I disliked:
-writing style which could be due to the translation
India has come a long way from the independence struggle in terms of equality, caste hierarchy and modernism. But one can't help but wonder what was the starting point of every revolution. Songs of people like Indira Gandhi, Jhansi ki Rani, Sarojini Naidu, have traveled far and wide.
This book narrates the story of Thengphakhri, the first female Tehsildar in the northeast region. It describes her journey from being a blindfolded employee of the company to a freedom fighter. The Bronze Sword, which everyone believes was gifted to her by the gods, became her symbol of defiance. Highly respected and looked upon, she was a role model for many generations.
The book was originally written in Assamese and while the story goes through an interesting plot, I can only assume that the writing was good in Assamese because the translation went awry.
Things I liked:
-beautiful representation of Assamese territory on environmental terms
-absolute relatability to the people of yore
-slight empowerment of women
-amazing imagery
Things I disliked:
-writing style which could be due to the translation
September 21, 2020
I think the story refused to engage me with its repetitive turn of phrase and uninteresting heroine due to the quality of the translation. The sentences were stilted and the motives of the characters were unexplained. The only character that came close to being interesting was killed off.
November 4, 2020
3.5. The story is brilliant, but the translation could've been better 😅😅
February 6, 2014
Jhansi ki Rani has and will always be another name for valour in India. For me, Tengphakhri will be equivalent to Jhansi ki Rani from now on. Another woman, another hero to look up to. Salute!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews