Belonging and Beyond: Place, Identity in Poems by Pranab K. Barman and Kamal K. Tanti

Abstract

Although Northeast India, and particularly Assam, constitutes a relatively small part of South Asia, it holds considerable socio-political and geographical significance. Recent political developments have positioned Assam as a key gateway for India to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Consequently, there is an increasing imperative to research and present Assamese culture, literature, art, and other distinctive features to a worldwide audience. In literary studies, translation operates not only as the conversion of one language to another but also as the transmission of thoughts, ideas, and emotions. Translating literature into regional languages expands the readership for regional authors and introduces the creative achievements of often underrecognized writers, which is essential for integrating regional literature into world literature. Numerous Assamese texts, similar to other regional works, have been translated into English. This paper reviews and analyzes selected translated poems by two prominent contemporary Assamese poets, Pranab Kumar Barman and Kamal Kumar Tanti. Although these poets differ in their thematic and stylistic approaches, their works provide documentary evidence of Assam’s socio-economic, political, and cultural characteristics. While their primary aim is to deal with critical issues in Assam, their poetic expressions attain a universal resonance. Accordingly, this paper explores representations of Assam in the selected poems and investigates how the poets imbue their works with universal significance.