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Colour my grave purple
Colour My Grave Purple is an unusual anthology of historical fiction from Assam which spans a century of the Northeastern state’s colourful past, evoking a vivid journey from the 1850s to the 2000s. Through stories about the peoples, cultures, ecology and socio-political paradigms of the frontier region, readers will stumble upon a fascinating mix of characters and entities; from occult practitioners and drunk elephants to a British-Naga queen and the Chinese red army. In these stories, Assam will encounter Britain, Japan and China through lived experiences that seamlessly traverse the natural-supernatural dichotomy, while attempting to understand its own identity as a state. Weaving remnants of social unrest, taboos, interspecies conflict and cultural movements into an undulating canvas, Colour My Grave Purple makes an attempt to locate the making of the region, from modern-day Assam to a time that is now a mere memory.
258 pages, Paperback
Published December 12, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 10, 2026
tracks Assam from the 1850s to 2019 not through news headlines, but through the lives of people who must live within the change.
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The introduction from the other, mentioning her father, the context of the title and the background and theme of each story is the perfect way to go into this rich book
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The tea gardens of Two Leaves and a Bud reveal the uncomfortable arrogance of colonialism, where the land cannot be expected to be merely economic territory. The tea gardens here reveal the uncomfortable arrogance of colonialism, where the land cannot be expected to be merely economic territory. In Bellows of a Wilted Poppy (1860), the indigenous healer is faced with the quiet violence of epistemic erasure, knowledge pushed aside in the name of progress.
By the time we reach Freedom in My Blood (1920), nationalism has invaded the domestic space. Political belief is no longer an abstraction; it upends kinship, loyalty, and the tentative structure of family.
One of my favourite stories is Ursula, inspired by the British woman anthropologist who lived among the Zeme Naga community during the war years. Observation becomes intimacy. Authority becomes vulnerability. The colonial gaze wavers. Sahin resists romance here; instead, she performs a subtle deconstruction of distance.
Through the years, the stories encompass ecological change, questions of faith, intergenerational conflict, insurgent memory, migration, and grief. Assam is never the setting; it is landscape, conscience, and contested legacy.
The titular tale is both tender and sharp, reclaiming mourning as colour. Purple is bruise and dignity at the same time sorrow that refuses to be invisible.
This is Indian historical fiction that is unapologetically Northeast Indian. It resists the reduction of Assamese stories to stereotype and instead provides moral complexity, ambiguity, and texture.
Is it thoughtful, yes, but more than that, it is attentive. And in a world of loud storytelling, attentiveness is revolutionary.
.
The introduction from the other, mentioning her father, the context of the title and the background and theme of each story is the perfect way to go into this rich book
.
The tea gardens of Two Leaves and a Bud reveal the uncomfortable arrogance of colonialism, where the land cannot be expected to be merely economic territory. The tea gardens here reveal the uncomfortable arrogance of colonialism, where the land cannot be expected to be merely economic territory. In Bellows of a Wilted Poppy (1860), the indigenous healer is faced with the quiet violence of epistemic erasure, knowledge pushed aside in the name of progress.
By the time we reach Freedom in My Blood (1920), nationalism has invaded the domestic space. Political belief is no longer an abstraction; it upends kinship, loyalty, and the tentative structure of family.
One of my favourite stories is Ursula, inspired by the British woman anthropologist who lived among the Zeme Naga community during the war years. Observation becomes intimacy. Authority becomes vulnerability. The colonial gaze wavers. Sahin resists romance here; instead, she performs a subtle deconstruction of distance.
Through the years, the stories encompass ecological change, questions of faith, intergenerational conflict, insurgent memory, migration, and grief. Assam is never the setting; it is landscape, conscience, and contested legacy.
The titular tale is both tender and sharp, reclaiming mourning as colour. Purple is bruise and dignity at the same time sorrow that refuses to be invisible.
This is Indian historical fiction that is unapologetically Northeast Indian. It resists the reduction of Assamese stories to stereotype and instead provides moral complexity, ambiguity, and texture.
Is it thoughtful, yes, but more than that, it is attentive. And in a world of loud storytelling, attentiveness is revolutionary.
February 26, 2026
This is a collection of 10 short stories that revisit the mysterious and complex layers of Assam's history from 1850s to 2000s through fictitious narrative.
The stories move across important moments in Assam’s past. They talk about the colonial plantation economy, the struggles of tea garden workers, human-animal conflict, wartime experiences, foreign invasions, the adaptability and strength of the Assamese people and many social, cultural, political layers that shape Assam.
The author showcases the stories through intimate human perspective. The shift from history to folklore or the supernatural was smooth. It felt mysterious and interesting. Reading about some of the beliefs and practices felt a little unsettling.
This was something new for me as i got to read about the undiscovered history of Assam. I can't say that i absolutely enjoyed it but I really appreciate the opportunity to learn more about Assam’s history through these stories. This book is not something you can read quickly just for entertainment but if history interests you then you are likely to enjoy this. You need to have patience to read this. Someone who wants to explore something new and outside the comfort zone then this is a good pick.
Being a debut, i really appreciate the author for choosing to write about this topic as it's not commonly written about. Moreover its never easy to write on such topics and also takes great effort to write. Lastly let me appreciate the beautiful cover of the book which is eye catching and title which makes it tempting enough to pick up the book.
The stories move across important moments in Assam’s past. They talk about the colonial plantation economy, the struggles of tea garden workers, human-animal conflict, wartime experiences, foreign invasions, the adaptability and strength of the Assamese people and many social, cultural, political layers that shape Assam.
The author showcases the stories through intimate human perspective. The shift from history to folklore or the supernatural was smooth. It felt mysterious and interesting. Reading about some of the beliefs and practices felt a little unsettling.
This was something new for me as i got to read about the undiscovered history of Assam. I can't say that i absolutely enjoyed it but I really appreciate the opportunity to learn more about Assam’s history through these stories. This book is not something you can read quickly just for entertainment but if history interests you then you are likely to enjoy this. You need to have patience to read this. Someone who wants to explore something new and outside the comfort zone then this is a good pick.
Being a debut, i really appreciate the author for choosing to write about this topic as it's not commonly written about. Moreover its never easy to write on such topics and also takes great effort to write. Lastly let me appreciate the beautiful cover of the book which is eye catching and title which makes it tempting enough to pick up the book.
April 26, 2026
With rich luscious narration each story is exotic and deeply human, unfolded Assam and its beauty like a beautiful new bride.
This book feels like a romantic stupor, an ode to the state of India and its inhabitants. I loved how deeply the author carved each story from history and culture, the ambiance is thick with the smell of green and murmur of past times, each story is alive with author's impeccable storytelling. I must say historical fiction lovers must have this book.
10 Beautiful stories are waiting for you..
📚☕
Blurb -
Colour My Grave Purple is an unusual anthology of historical fiction from Assam which spans a century of the Northeastern state’s colourful past, evoking a vivid journey from the 1850s to the 2000s. Through stories about the peoples, cultures, ecology and socio-political paradigms of the frontier region, readers will stumble upon a fascinating mix of characters and entities; from occult practitioners and drunk elephants to a British-Naga queen and the Chinese red army. In these stories, Assam will encounter Britain, Japan and China through lived experiences that seamlessly traverse the natural-supernatural dichotomy, while attempting to understand its own identity as a state. Weaving remnants of social unrest, taboos, interspecies conflict and cultural movements into an undulating canvas, Colour My Grave Purple makes an attempt to locate the making of the region, from modern-day Assam to a time that is now a mere memory.
This book feels like a romantic stupor, an ode to the state of India and its inhabitants. I loved how deeply the author carved each story from history and culture, the ambiance is thick with the smell of green and murmur of past times, each story is alive with author's impeccable storytelling. I must say historical fiction lovers must have this book.
10 Beautiful stories are waiting for you..
📚☕
Blurb -
Colour My Grave Purple is an unusual anthology of historical fiction from Assam which spans a century of the Northeastern state’s colourful past, evoking a vivid journey from the 1850s to the 2000s. Through stories about the peoples, cultures, ecology and socio-political paradigms of the frontier region, readers will stumble upon a fascinating mix of characters and entities; from occult practitioners and drunk elephants to a British-Naga queen and the Chinese red army. In these stories, Assam will encounter Britain, Japan and China through lived experiences that seamlessly traverse the natural-supernatural dichotomy, while attempting to understand its own identity as a state. Weaving remnants of social unrest, taboos, interspecies conflict and cultural movements into an undulating canvas, Colour My Grave Purple makes an attempt to locate the making of the region, from modern-day Assam to a time that is now a mere memory.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews