Book Review | Diverse shades of Assamese Identity through its history, cuisine and culture

In Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty’s second book The Assamese: A Portrait of a Community, she explores the many aspects of Assamese identity, from how we look to our history, language, culture, and politics. Starting with the fundamental question, ‘Aami kun? Who are we?’ The author takes us on a journey, helping us to understand what makes someone’s Assamese identity, ranging from physical appearance and historical roots to language, cultural practices, and contemporary politics.

In the book, Pisharoty emphasizes the uniqueness of the Assamese community, not only in its composition of tribal and non-tribal sub-groups but also in the binding force of cultural practices rather than linguistic unity. This observation sheds light on the historical language wars in Assam and challenges policymakers’ lack of understanding of the region’s peculiarities. The author also traces the origins of the Assamese people, exploring the physiognomy of an Assamese and the impact of migration on the community’s formation.

Author Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty writes in the book ‘Biological taxonomy compartmentalizes the world population into three basic races: Caucasian (white), Mongoloid (Asian), and Negroid (black), aside from the later addition, Australoid. Who do the Assamese—located at a junction of Indian and East Asian civilisations—find their physical affinity with? Where lies their kinship? Well, it is here that the story of the Assamese community becomes complex and layered, like a bloom which has a set of petals that are of not the same shape and size, colour and texture.

Take my immediate family. My eyes are narrow and small, the cheekbones are high; so are my mother’s. My sister and my brother’s eyes are relatively bigger, cheekbones high. My nose, like my father’s, is thin and sharp. Akin to my mother, my sister’s nose is broad and thick. ‘You look like your father and your sister, like your mother,’ I have grown up hearing that remark from friends and neighbours, relatives. We, as a family, are owners of skin colours that stretch from boga (fair) to mitha-boronia (wheatish). In my neighbourhood itself, if I walk a few doors away from ours, there is a friend’s family evenly divided in skin tones, from dhok dhok ke boga (very fair) to ketur kola (dark as night). Are they an anomaly? Their hair too differs, from Maggie curls to wavy. Are these differences a clue to the distinctiveness of my community? Incorporating all these variations, have we not become Axomiya_, the Assamese, an amalgam of people under one broad umbrella?_

The fact that there was an admixture of groups of people from diverse racial stocks settling down side by side in the Brahmaputra Valley over centuries and in course of time most of them metamorphosed into a formulation only reaffirms to me that there is no typical Assamese look. There cannot be. There are no archetypical Assamese eyes, like the Bengali eyes; there is no stock hair type in Assamese women like that of the crimped, wavy variety that most Malayali women flaunt. There is no set notion about what an Assamese man looks like as there is about a Punjabi man—strapping, well-built. From eyes—big to the tiniest; nose—sharpest to the most levelled, thinnest to the broadest; from dhok dhok ke boga to ketur kola skin tones; from curly hair to the glossiest silky head; from thin to the broadest lips; from high cheekbones to rounded cheeks; from thick, stocky bodies to lanky, tall beings, there are Assamese of every form. Sharp physical variations are found even within a single family. How exactly do we define one’s lineage?’

The narrative spans from the ancient history of Assam, revealing the Aryanization process and the adoption of Hinduism by a diverse community with various religious practices. The book precisely highlights the historical challenge of immigration, a significant factor in Assam’s politics. Pisharoty offers insights into lesser-known aspects, such as traditional war weaves and diverse forms of folk music like “jikir.” The book “The Assamese” goes beyond politics and history, providing a comprehensive exploration of Assam’s rich tradition in literature, music, dance, cinema, crafts, and cuisine.

A sole chapter in the book is dedicated to Assamese cuisine, challenging the stereotype that associates Eastern food habits solely with Bengali cuisine. Pisharoty introduces readers to unique culinary elements such as khaar, tenga, titta, and the affinity for fermented foods. The author tells us her anecdotes and conversations in this exploration, making it both informative and relatable.  The book offers a valuable perspective on Assam’s cultural richness and the delicate balance between tradition and modernity.

A celebrated journalist and author Sangeeta Baruah Pisharoty’s introspection, driven by questions of identity and belonging, adds a layer of authenticity to the narrative. The author successfully balances academic research with lived experiences, creating a strong narrative that resonates with readers, particularly those who share similar reflections on identity.

The appendix, featuring voices of intellectuals, journalists, filmmakers, lawyers, and others, provides a diverse and polyphonic perspective on what it means to be Assamese. This inclusive approach reflects the true essence of a community that harmoniously coexists with its diversity. The book also presents a balanced and inclusive portrait, showcasing the diversity within the Assamese community.

With a mix of journalistic and academic approaches, the author creates a readable and enjoyable work that goes beyond the well-known facets of Assam, presenting a nuanced and inclusive portrayal of the Assamese people. In The Assamese: A Portrait of a Community, Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty accomplishes the ambitious task of condensing a comprehensive understanding of Assamese identity into a single book. This book serves as a valuable resource for both non-Assamese readers seeking insights into Assam’s culture and those within the community wanting to reconnect with their roots.

Book: The Assamese: A Portrait of a Community by Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty
Publisher:  Aleph Book Company
Price**:** Rs 999

The author is a Bengaluru-based management professional, literary critic, and curator. He can be reached at ashutoshbthakur@gmail.com. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost_’s views_.

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