What do you think?
Rate this book
Jangam : The Movement, A forgotten exodus in which thousands died
Jangam (Movement) is the poignant tale of ordinary people who embarked on a great, unknown journey in the midst of WWII but whose bids for survival were thwarted as they battled Nature. Hardly any account of this massive calamity has been registered in India’s literature, says Debendranath Acharya in the late 1970s, in the preface to his Sahitya Akademi award-winning Assamese novel. During this migration an estimated 450,000-500,000 Burmese Indians walked to north-east India, fleeing from the Japanese advance and also from escalating ethnic violence in the Burmese theatre of war. ‘Corpses lay everywhere, and there were no jackals and vultures to pick them clean... All other forms of animal life seem to have abjured this pathway, save for scores of beautiful butterflies that cover the bodies in a sea of colour’, say contemporary foreign accounts of this exodus. Jangam is the only sustained fictional treatment of this long march.
343 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1982
7 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 7, 2019
2019: 45
.
🍁
.
Jangam: A Forgotten Exodus in which Thousands Died.
Written by Debendranath Acharya.
Translated by Amit Baishya.
1982/ 2018. Pp- 365.
.
.
“Hundred years is nothing in the history of a race.”
.
.
Based in a fictious village in Burma called Manku, a small community with families not more than 20, the story is set in historic backdrop- the mass exodus of Burmese Indians during the World War II, escaping the Japanese invasion.
At the centre of this backdrop, is a family of Ramgobinda - his widowed mother (68), his son, Thanu (7), and his wife Lacchmi (28), expecting their second child.
It is a story of him and his, a story of family ties, unbreakable bonds, of loss and pain and above all, of hope, faltering.
.
Debendranath Acharya is a renowned historical novelist in Assemese. Published posthumously in 1982, it is indeed a "tale of one of the largest yet completely undermined Humanitarian crisis in the history of British India."
.
It is an important book in the history of Indian Literature and of the history of India, for it is a tale of "unacknowledged people".
This one's for all the stories that were never heard!
.
Not knowing where to begin from, I'm overwhelmed to the brim.
There must be things to point out from the point of view factual and historical relevance (in comparison to the real events and the ways it was dealt with), as the translator, Amit Baishya mentions in his note. However, I would like to excuse myself from those and focus instead on the story line, the articulation and the final product that comes out in the book. I'd rather comment on the emotion and narration of the story, the thought behind it.
.
First of all, powerful themes like homelessness, loss, trauma, sense of belongingness are bravely explored in the story. The narrative also displays the level of empathy in the receiving society, or its lack thereof.
Coming to the storyline now, it narrates the loss of humanness of people, thrown out and away from their peaceful lives, in a world unknown and unsafe. It's not just a loss of one thing, but everything. A story of stateless people- in a very compelling way. Carrying hope and nothing else with them, it talks about not just the history but the pain and suffering that makes it one. It takes us on a journey of a family amongst many, being uprooted to the point of loss of any identity, reduced to an unwanted crowd. This is more than a transition. It's displacement.
It sparks within us feelings we are unaware of with the mere thought of leaving behind a life and starting a new one, a transition that is far from cherished, and the life of a generation to follow, for they too have lost a chance at happiness and peace.
.
The language is easy but quite influential. With its strong visuals, it leaves behind a strong, long lasting impact. From the remains of a mother and an infant frozen in the act of sucking her breast to the most beautiful butterflies in Assam that year feasting off the juices that oozed from the decaying body, calling the picture painted 'intense', would be an understatement. Makes you stop for a while and read it again, doesn't it?
.
If I speak of the structure of the book, it is close to perfection! I like books that are well-organised and structured to the last point. Something as simple as footnotes adds so much authenticity to one's text. Also, I don't know if you guys skip the introduction pages, but for me author's note, or in this case, a note from the Translator helps create a window for readers. A window to the perspective and context and the origin that lies behind and has lead up to every word that is to follow. That's the story of the story one is about to read. It brings us so much closer to the author and helps us understand what inspired him/ her to create start such a project! It inspires you further to commit to the book.
Now I think you'll know why I would say that it's well-researched book, backed up with genuine and relevant research.
However, there's a suggestion I'd like to make, though - read the introduction after you read the book. It kinda preps you in a way you might not want to be. I'm the kind of reader who like to discover my likes and dislikes on my own. Having read the the translator's note first, I was waiting for a lot things I was told to expect to see. But it's just a little heads up, it may be otherwise for you :)
.
The cover of the book is apt too, depicting the plight of people reduced to a crowd in a stranger land, with the grey choice of color adding to its impact.
.
.
Many might call Jangam a historical fiction. While it is one, we cannot reduce it only to this genre, because it is so much more than that. It unlayers the many layers of human emotion, felt and inspired.
It talks about not just the history but the pain and suffering that makes it one. The focus is more on the experience part of history than history itself. This book is our chance to know of the unspoken narratives, before they're completely forgotten.
.
From 1947 Partition refugees to the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in the 90s, to a brief encounter with refugees of the Boer War from 1900s, I have discovered and relished this genre. Keeping it close to my heart, I thank Vitasta Publications to add such value to my shelf and life.
A great, great reading experience! 4 on 5!
.
.
#bookstagramindia #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #review #bookreview #readdreamrepeat #blogger #bookblogger #delhibookstagrammer #indianblogger #sahityaacademy #sahityaacademyawardwinner #translated #translatedreads #historicalfiction #historyofindia #worldwarII #refugees #refugeecrises #mustread
.
🍁
.
Jangam: A Forgotten Exodus in which Thousands Died.
Written by Debendranath Acharya.
Translated by Amit Baishya.
1982/ 2018. Pp- 365.
.
.
“Hundred years is nothing in the history of a race.”
.
.
Based in a fictious village in Burma called Manku, a small community with families not more than 20, the story is set in historic backdrop- the mass exodus of Burmese Indians during the World War II, escaping the Japanese invasion.
At the centre of this backdrop, is a family of Ramgobinda - his widowed mother (68), his son, Thanu (7), and his wife Lacchmi (28), expecting their second child.
It is a story of him and his, a story of family ties, unbreakable bonds, of loss and pain and above all, of hope, faltering.
.
Debendranath Acharya is a renowned historical novelist in Assemese. Published posthumously in 1982, it is indeed a "tale of one of the largest yet completely undermined Humanitarian crisis in the history of British India."
.
It is an important book in the history of Indian Literature and of the history of India, for it is a tale of "unacknowledged people".
This one's for all the stories that were never heard!
.
Not knowing where to begin from, I'm overwhelmed to the brim.
There must be things to point out from the point of view factual and historical relevance (in comparison to the real events and the ways it was dealt with), as the translator, Amit Baishya mentions in his note. However, I would like to excuse myself from those and focus instead on the story line, the articulation and the final product that comes out in the book. I'd rather comment on the emotion and narration of the story, the thought behind it.
.
First of all, powerful themes like homelessness, loss, trauma, sense of belongingness are bravely explored in the story. The narrative also displays the level of empathy in the receiving society, or its lack thereof.
Coming to the storyline now, it narrates the loss of humanness of people, thrown out and away from their peaceful lives, in a world unknown and unsafe. It's not just a loss of one thing, but everything. A story of stateless people- in a very compelling way. Carrying hope and nothing else with them, it talks about not just the history but the pain and suffering that makes it one. It takes us on a journey of a family amongst many, being uprooted to the point of loss of any identity, reduced to an unwanted crowd. This is more than a transition. It's displacement.
It sparks within us feelings we are unaware of with the mere thought of leaving behind a life and starting a new one, a transition that is far from cherished, and the life of a generation to follow, for they too have lost a chance at happiness and peace.
.
The language is easy but quite influential. With its strong visuals, it leaves behind a strong, long lasting impact. From the remains of a mother and an infant frozen in the act of sucking her breast to the most beautiful butterflies in Assam that year feasting off the juices that oozed from the decaying body, calling the picture painted 'intense', would be an understatement. Makes you stop for a while and read it again, doesn't it?
.
If I speak of the structure of the book, it is close to perfection! I like books that are well-organised and structured to the last point. Something as simple as footnotes adds so much authenticity to one's text. Also, I don't know if you guys skip the introduction pages, but for me author's note, or in this case, a note from the Translator helps create a window for readers. A window to the perspective and context and the origin that lies behind and has lead up to every word that is to follow. That's the story of the story one is about to read. It brings us so much closer to the author and helps us understand what inspired him/ her to create start such a project! It inspires you further to commit to the book.
Now I think you'll know why I would say that it's well-researched book, backed up with genuine and relevant research.
However, there's a suggestion I'd like to make, though - read the introduction after you read the book. It kinda preps you in a way you might not want to be. I'm the kind of reader who like to discover my likes and dislikes on my own. Having read the the translator's note first, I was waiting for a lot things I was told to expect to see. But it's just a little heads up, it may be otherwise for you :)
.
The cover of the book is apt too, depicting the plight of people reduced to a crowd in a stranger land, with the grey choice of color adding to its impact.
.
.
Many might call Jangam a historical fiction. While it is one, we cannot reduce it only to this genre, because it is so much more than that. It unlayers the many layers of human emotion, felt and inspired.
It talks about not just the history but the pain and suffering that makes it one. The focus is more on the experience part of history than history itself. This book is our chance to know of the unspoken narratives, before they're completely forgotten.
.
From 1947 Partition refugees to the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in the 90s, to a brief encounter with refugees of the Boer War from 1900s, I have discovered and relished this genre. Keeping it close to my heart, I thank Vitasta Publications to add such value to my shelf and life.
A great, great reading experience! 4 on 5!
.
.
#bookstagramindia #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #review #bookreview #readdreamrepeat #blogger #bookblogger #delhibookstagrammer #indianblogger #sahityaacademy #sahityaacademyawardwinner #translated #translatedreads #historicalfiction #historyofindia #worldwarII #refugees #refugeecrises #mustread
Read
October 16, 2018The book although written about the second world war is not a typical war novel. It is not written from the perspective of the victor or the vanquished. Rather the viewpoint is of the common poor who ends up losing everything. The book raises some fundamental questions – is nationalism always based on ‘othering’. How long does it take for one to belong?? Ramgobinda was born and brought up in Burma. His economic condition, his life was the same as his Burmese neighbours but he was still considered a foreigner. Amidst much despair, the book also offered hope. On their journey, they met simple helpful villagers who helped them with the little they could spare. Thanu’s kitten Mini who kept appearing by their side and survived the journey may have stood for resilience, perseverance and signified the silver lining. Towards the end of the book, Ramgobinda and his group manages to reach Assam. In a miraculous way, he is united with his family. However both Ramgobinda and Lachchmi have lost their sanity. It shows the toll that such extreme condition takes on people.
Read the full review at:
https://parvinsultana.blogspot.com/20...
Read the full review at:
https://parvinsultana.blogspot.com/20...
December 11, 2022
Jangam - There had been major displacements in early of 20th century due to number of factors like rise of nationalism, world wars and so on. One of such less known movement (Jangamata) is that of exodus of Indians from Burma.
Indian independence was marked with rapid movements, one in the name of religion (Pakistan) which is well covered and tons of literature build on it. Another, a predecessor to the former based on the nationalistic urge and almost no major literature coverage, was the one in the east from Burma.
This mass movement sat in backdrop of Asian arena of WW2, with Japan’s rapid expansion to the Asian mainland and to be precise in Burma. Burma too was a part of extended British colony, with major exports includes teak. But first of all how thousands of Indians got into Burma? And why they fled for their life with invasion of Japan? Interesting point is that Subhash Chandra Bose alias Netaji, one of the pioneer in the Indian independence movement and firm believer in use of force to drive British out of India, aligned with Japan for his nations liberation. So, what was the scenario in Burma when it was a British colony?
Jangam answers the above questions through its pages. One of the painful chapter in the Indian history and that of its people, which hasn’t yet got its wider audience base!
Indian independence was marked with rapid movements, one in the name of religion (Pakistan) which is well covered and tons of literature build on it. Another, a predecessor to the former based on the nationalistic urge and almost no major literature coverage, was the one in the east from Burma.
This mass movement sat in backdrop of Asian arena of WW2, with Japan’s rapid expansion to the Asian mainland and to be precise in Burma. Burma too was a part of extended British colony, with major exports includes teak. But first of all how thousands of Indians got into Burma? And why they fled for their life with invasion of Japan? Interesting point is that Subhash Chandra Bose alias Netaji, one of the pioneer in the Indian independence movement and firm believer in use of force to drive British out of India, aligned with Japan for his nations liberation. So, what was the scenario in Burma when it was a British colony?
Jangam answers the above questions through its pages. One of the painful chapter in the Indian history and that of its people, which hasn’t yet got its wider audience base!
March 21, 2020
Story of some common men who embarked on a journey to uncertainty of more than a week through unhabitated forests in Burma during the WWII. The Japanese attacked the British forces and in turn, resulted in attacks on thousands of refugees guarded by the British forces leaving thousands of them dead. The description of dead bodies was something brought tears in my eyes.
Haven't read any book that describes in such intricate details how the exodus affected all these people physically, mentally, and emotionally. Thousands of them even died during the process of this exodus.
Haven't read any book that describes in such intricate details how the exodus affected all these people physically, mentally, and emotionally. Thousands of them even died during the process of this exodus.
January 22, 2024
Exodus of a few common villagers across Irrawaddy fields in burma over a period if 21 days march. Tragic lives lost, families separated and new relationships built during the journey.. attacks of Japanese and help from allies. Reaching Ledu via pangsau pass and nampong in the end
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews