The author reminisces about her trip to Tripura

For years Tripura had remained a fairyland for me; tales of a former princely state evoking beautiful images of a pristine land untouched by modern times. Somehow I had not been able to visit the state for a number of reasons though I have travelled all over the world.

I also knew that being so close, I would finally be able to see the land of my dreams sooner than later. The opportunity came sooner than expected.

Last year in June, Tripura’s minister Anil Sarkar — who is also a very accomplished poet — came to Guwahati to take part in the Brahmaputra- Barak-Ganga-Gomti Maitri Aru Matribhasha Utsav at Shilpgram.

A day ahead of the start of the festival on June 7, Sarkar came to my house in Gandhi Basti to invite me to the festival which was organised by the Tripura government.

I presented a copy of my only book of poetry Pain and Flesh — which was in English — to him.

I even jotted down a poem on the Tripura of my dreams which was read out during the inaugural function of the festival.

Sarkar told me about Tripura, how the state was rapidly progressing and invited me to his state.

The opportunity came in February this year when the Sahitya Akademi’s North East Centre for Oral Literature, Agartala, invited me to inaugurate a woman writers’ meet on Northeast Oral Languages. I gladly accepted.

I was treated like a queen from the moment I landed at the airport in Agartala.

I was escorted to the circuit house which Anil Sarkar visited several times during my stay just to ensure that I was comfortable.

I was moved by the man’s simplicity and honesty which are rare qualities in political leaders. But Anil Sarkar is a man of refined tastes and I was happy to be his guest.

The meeting was held at the Nazrul Khsetra at Banamalipur and there were poets from many different communities who spoke Kokborok, Kuki, Mizo, Mog, Hrangkhwal and Chakma among others.

The place was full of people — invited dignitaries, poets, writers and those who were just curious.

I noticed a booklet being distributed among those present at the meeting. It contained the Bengali translation of two of my poems, including the long poem dedicated to the Brahmaputra and titled My Red River.

I remembered presenting my collection of poems to Anil Sarkar. He had taken the trouble of translating the poem to Bengali which he did with great flair.

The second poem was my tribute to Tripura, O my beautiful Tripura. It had been translated to Bengali by my friend Mukti Choudhury. The most wonderful moment of the meeting came when Anil Sarkar himself recited the Bengali translation of My Red River.

(To be continued)