Indira Goswami: Margins and Beyond

This book explores the life and works of Indira Goswami, the first Assamese woman writer to win the Jnanpith Award. It highlights her penchant for transcending boundaries, creating egalitarian and democratic spaces, and her activism against animal sacrifice and militancy. The volume includes non-fictional prose, excerpts from her stories, and interviews with Goswami. It is part of the Writer in Context series and will be useful for scholars and researchers in Indian literature, Assamese literature, English literature, postcolonial studies, cultural studies, global south studies, gender studies, and translation studies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 350 pages
Publication date: 29 January 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This captivating book delves into the life and remarkable works of Indira Goswami, the trailblazing Assamese woman writer who achieved the prestigious Jnanpith Award in 2001, making history as the first Assamese woman to do so. Goswami's literary creations are a captivating blend of sociological treatises and a socio-political milieu, seamlessly intertwining the local and global, the popular and the canonical. Her penchant for transcending boundaries gives her texts a fresh and unique perspective, reshaping the social and cultural domains with her visionary approach. What sets Goswami's writing apart is her unwavering commitment to portraying every character as a representative of society, bringing the context to life through vivid portrayals of class struggles, power plays, caste discrimination, and gendered narratives. This semantic richness adds an intriguing depth to her works, making them thought-provoking and relatable to readers from diverse backgrounds.

While tracing the trajectories discussed above, this book highlights Goswami's act of venturing beyond the margins of various kinds, both abstract and concrete, in her search for egalitarian and democratic spaces of life. Goswami's literary journey is closely intertwined with her multifaceted and almost mythical life, particularly her unwavering activism against animal sacrifice and her involvement in militant activities in her later career.

Part of the Writer in Context series, this book offers valuable insights to scholars and researchers interested in Indian literature, Assamese literature, English literature, postcolonial studies, cultural studies, global south studies, gender studies, and translation studies. It provides a comprehensive examination of Goswami's works, exploring the themes and issues within her writing while also delving into the distinct language and style that characterize her work. The volume includes a diverse range of materials, including non-fictional prose, excerpts from her short stories and novels, critical viewpoints, letters, diary entries, and interviews with Goswami herself. By engaging with her works within the context of her remarkable life, this book offers a deeper understanding of her literary contributions and the enduring impact she has had on the world of literature.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367705800