The Man from Chinnamasta

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The Man From Chinnamasta

First English edition cover, painting by Tyeb Mehta

Author| Indira Goswami
Original title| 'Chinnamastar Manuhtu'
Translator| Prashanta Goswami
Country| India
Language| English
Genre| Assamese Literature
Publisher| Katha Books
Media type| Print (Paperback
Pages| 200
ISBN| 81-89020-38-2
LC Class| MLCS 2006/01346 (P) PK1569.G578

The Man from Chinnamasta is a novel published in 2005 and written by Indira Goswami, who was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award[1] in 1983, the Jnanpith Award[2] in 2001 and the Prince Claus Awards in 2008.[3] Set in pre-independence British Assam, it was written with a specific political vision : to exhort her readers to protest against the practice of animal sacrifice in the ancient Kamakhya Temple in Assam. Once published, it took Assam by storm[4] because of its subversive nature. The Brahmins especially took offence for her frank demand to remove an ancient practice in the most important Shakti temple of the world.

## Plot[edit]

The novel follows the relationship of Dorothy Brown, a British woman in Assam, and her relationship with a tantric of the Kamakhya Temple in Assam. Ratnadhar and Bidhibala's -the child widow's- story runs parallel to this narrative. Ratnadhar organizes a signature campaign against the practice and faces many troubles in the process.

## Significance[edit]

The novel is also a scholarly account of Indira Goswami's quest and hard work. The Man from Chinnamasta, the tantric who is the protagonist, constantly discusses the ancient Sanskrit scriptures and substantiates his demand to stop animal sacrifice. He demonstrates the various alternatives that Debi Bhagavat, Yogini Tantra and Kalika Purana furnish to animal sacrifice.

## See also[edit]

* Assamese literature
* Pages Stained With Blood

## References[edit]

1. ^ India Club
2. ^ Frontline Vol 18 Issue 17[usurped]
3. ^ Prince Claus Foundation Citation
4. ^ Katha in the News

## External links[edit]

* Struggle for change (review)

*[LC Class]: Library of Congress Classification