Three generations of a family search for their identity, as their village changes its identity from being Indian, to being Pakistani, to being Bangladeshi.
Born out of wedlock in the village of Hazratkandi, Anjaan’s tale traces the desperate search of three generations of Hazratkandis for their identity, which they believe lies buried in the martyr’s graves of Malegarh, in Assam’s Karimganj district.
Asman Hazratkandi, the last in his line, remains in the village where he was born, while the village itself is shoved from India first to Pakistan, and then to Bangladesh.
Asman Hazratkandi belonged nowhere. In life, no land accepted him.
In death, he lay in the no man’s land at the Indo-Bangladesh international border, leaving behind an unfinished search.
THE AUTHOR
RASHMI NARZARY is a dog-lover at heart, an author by passion, a creative writing mentor, and an independent editor. Her book His Share of Sky was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Prize for Children’s Literature in 2016. Some of her work is taught in undergraduate courses, and some is being translated into Vietnamese by the Japan Foundation. Bloodstone: Legend of the Last Engraving was her debut novel. She lives in Guwahati, India, with her husband, two children and a happy host of pets.
BOOK PRAISE:
‘Exploring the troubled history of Assam’s borderlands, Rashmi Narzary builds a gripping narrative on the meanings of home and belonging. On a philosophical note, this is everyone’s timeless story — because ’country’ and ‘affiliation’ have lost their connotations in the global migratory acts of restless, rootless people. But they cannot find peace. There is an eternal quest for attachment— for someone, someplace. Written with great insight and finesse, this novel, An Unfinished Search, leaves an indelible mark as a testament of our times.’ PROFESSOR MALASHRI LAL, LITERARY CRITIC AND MEMBER OF GENERAL COUNCIL OF THE SAHITYA AKADEMI
‘An Unfinished Search is an extraordinary yet as-true-as-life story written by a sensitive writer whose mastery over historical fiction is more than evident in her seamless weaving of fact and fiction. Original in its conceptualization, powerful in its characterization, this is a novel that touches the innermost recesses of one’s heart. Rashmi Narzary has once again contributed a work of art to lovers of refined, thoughtful literature.’ DHRUBA HAZARIKA, NOVELIST AND FORMER CIVIL SERVICE OFFICER
‘An Unfinished Search looks at rejection and a sense of non-belonging, brought about by war and partition, from a fresh, exceptional and very moving perspective. The description of the places, the characters and each of their emotions is so marvellously handled; but what is absolutely fabulous is that the author manages to tell a tale through three generations, keeping the narration and the sequence of events totally gripping all along! The weaving of fiction through fact is done so brilliantly yet effortlessly that the book is simply unputdownable!’ SANJEEV SRIVASTAV, JOURNALIST AND EDITOR
‘Identity is a strange word that often eludes many of us through our lives, just as in Rashmi Narzary’s poignant novel. Anjaan, Badal and Asman departed while the flaming gulmohors remained witness to their unfinished quest for identity, and the oleanders and periwinkles planted by Asman would continue to shower their love on the graves of unknown martyrs. In this mesmerising novel, Rashmi brings alive a forgotten piece of history and entwined it superbly with the turbulence of the times that unsettles ordinary people’s lives.’ GOVIND BHATTACHARJEE, AUTHOR, ACADEMIC AND FORMER CIVIL SERVANT
‘A powerful yet sensitive portrayal of a human being’s challenge to be able to belong! Rashmi Narzary excels once again in her simple yet articulate prose as she depicts the individual struggle of Asman, as well as brings to the fore the eternal struggle of migrants and how, as a developed world, we are yet to find a practical solution. A refreshing new read from the author who has earlier given us delightful children’s stories.’ Sunita KHAUND BHUYAN, VIOLINIST & LEADERSHIP PRACTITIONER
‘It’s a gripping account, a moving story of human identity and dignity subsumed under changing national identities. An Unfinished Search again confirms the travails of societies in transition in Asia and beyond …. It also vividly reminds us of changes in multicultural and multireligious societies in transition with unrequited search for identity and roots.’
PROF. SRIKANTH KONDAPALLI, PROFESSOR, JAWAHARLAL NEHRU UNIVERSITY, NEW DELHI
‘An Unfinished Search is a heart wrenching story which keeps the reader interested and absorbed throughout.’ JISHNU BARUAH (RETD. IAS), FORMER CHIEF SECRETARY OF ASSAM
