Kohima: PenThrill hit a milestone on July 18. The publisher dropped its 123rd title at the 20th Foundation Day event for Assam University, Diphu Campus. The book, Torn Pages from my Northeast Diary: A Memoir, captures the life of author Sivasish Biswas.
Big names attended the release. Chancellor Arup Raha, a former Air Chief Marshall, joined Vice Chancellor Professor Rajive Mohan Pant. Author Dhruba Hazarika, Deputy Commissioner Aranyak Saikia, and Padma Shri recipient Pokhila Lekthepi stood with Dean Academics Professor Narendra Singh to mark the launch.
Biswas holds the seat of Pro-Vice Chancellor at the Diphu Campus for his second term. He joined the university in 2009 to lead the English department. Before that stint, he worked at Mizoram University and Karimganj College. He even held a Fulbright Scholarship at Central Arizona College from 2013 to 2014.
The book details his 39-year connection to the Northeast and his work with tribal communities. He identifies as an Outsider Insider. He writes, "I have found so much of love and acceptance in the Northeast in spite of the resistance towards outsiders that I have titled myself an 'Outsider Insider'."
Biswas tackles heavy topics in the text. He discusses the otherizing syndrome, job shortages, and the pain caused by political friction. He notes that the Big Bad-Outsider label functions as a form of reverse colonialism. Despite these tensions, he maintains deep empathy for the region.
Vice Chancellor Pant wrote the foreword. He praised the work for clearing up wrong ideas about the area. Pant stated, "not only is the narrative exceedingly attractive coming from Professor Biswas, but also clears many misgivings and wrong perceptions that people may have about this serene land and its beautiful inhabitants."
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