THE DIVINE SWORD
WINNER OF THE SAHITYA AKADEMI AWARD
First published in Assamese as Deo Langkhui: 2005
Available on Amazon

AN OVERVIEW
An extraordinary work of historical fiction, Deo Langkhui is an epic saga set against the backdrop of the Tiwa kingdom in 14th-century Assam. Spanning multiple generations, the novel is a masterful tapestry of love and loyalty, power and politics, revenge and redemption. Originally penned in Assamese and later translated into English as The Divine Sword, the magnum opus earned the Kalaguru Bishnuprasad Rabha Award in 2006 and the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2008, solidifying its place as a landmark in Indian literature.
Dr. Chowdhury’s meticulous historical research, coupled with her exquisite command of prose, breathes life into a world long past. Weaving a narrative rich with political intrigue and human drama, she constructs a compelling chronicle of dynastic ambition and personal sacrifice. Themes of love, conflict, and destiny are interwoven with remarkable dexterity, creating a literary experience as immersive as it is unforgettable.
Anchored in documented history, the novel offers a profound exploration of the Tiwa kingdom—its societal structures, enduring traditions, and cultural practices—many of which continue to resonate within the contemporary Assamese ethos. Through evocative storytelling, Dr. Chowdhury resurrects a civilization and a way of life, ensuring its legacy endures in the collective imagination of her readers.
SYNOPSIS
At its core, The Divine Sword is a sweeping, multi-generational saga that unravels the internecine conflicts of royal lineages, exposing the shifting tectonics of power and ambition. The story is catalyzed by the untimely death of Prince Mriganko of Gobha and the astonishing surrender of his assassin, King Jokanko. As Chandraprabha—also known as Konsari—Mriganko’s bereaved mother and the custodian of her family’s fractured past, grapples with these tragic events, buried secrets resurface, forcing a reckoning with destinies long intertwined.
In a compelling flashback, we are transported to a time when the young and resplendent Queen Chandraprabha was unjustly exiled by her husband, King Pratapsingha, over suspicions of harboring illicit affections for the Gobha king. Branded a traitor, she seeks asylum within the Gobha kingdom, where she assimilates into Tiwa society, adopting the name Konsari and rising to prominence. As the narrative unfolds, the lives of her descendants are meticulously chronicled—each marked by passion, ambition, betrayal, and violent retribution.
At the heart of this electrifying epic lies the eponymous Divine Sword—a mythical weapon of unparalleled might, imbued with the power to alter fates and shape empires. It becomes both an instrument of sovereignty and a harbinger of destruction, driving men to the precipice of their darkest desires. As dynasties rise and collapse under its shadow, the novel examines the perilous intersection of destiny and human will, where ambition feeds off the intoxicating lure of absolute power.
Dr. Chowdhury’s evocative prose paints an arresting portrait of tribal existence, rituals, and the geopolitical tensions that simmer beneath the surface of royal courts. Her unparalleled ability to conjure the sensory richness of time and place ensures that the reader is not a mere spectator but an inhabitant of this lost world—one who feels the pulse of its triumphs and tragedies alike.
Through a narrative that oscillates between grandeur and intimacy, The Divine Sword transcends the realm of historical fiction to become a profound meditation on the human condition itself. Love and loss, vengeance and absolution, ecstasy and despair—all are rendered with an intensity that lingers long after the final page. The novel is not merely a chronicle of a forgotten past; it is a testament to the eternal forces that govern human nature, making it a masterpiece that resonates across time.
A symphony of history, mythology, and human drama, The Divine Sword is a literary odyssey that will leave you spellbound, enraptured by the echoes of a world both distant and hauntingly familiar.
EXCERPTS OF REVIEWS
Amitav Ghish, Novelist – ‘Rita Chowdhury is an energetic and empathetic storyteller…’
Good Reads – Originally published in Assamese as Deo Langkhui, (The Divine Sword), a stupendous novel, won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2008. It weaves an epic saga immersing the reader in the blood-soaked tapestry of Assamese history.
Sohini Reads & Reviews – The Divine Sword highlights the power of love and redemption, anger and betrayal, revenge and forgiveness. With its true portrayal of the characters and events, The Divine Sword comes extremely close to being labelled as an epic. If you have read The Palace of Illusions, or love reading historical novels, then The Divine Sword is the perfect book for you.https://poesyinchrysalis.wordpress.com/2024/04/03/book-review-the-divine-sword-by-rita-chowdhury/
thestorygraph.com – Every character, even those flawed like Pratapchandra and Dhaneswar, contributes to a rich tapestry of emotions and complexity.
https://assets.thestorygraph.com/book_reviews/e30077d4-e63f-4890-97b6-c0929d448c65

AUTHOR’S VOICE
‘The genesis of Makam lies in a small incident that happened decades before I actually wrote the book. I was a college student then, and happened to be passing through Makum (the last railway junction in upper Assam), when I noticed a few Chinese people on the roads. I was curious – what were they doing in this remote part of Assam? Someone mentioned that these Chinese people had been brought here during World War II. The story stayed with me, and years later I decided to find out more… My research brought to light a long forgotten chapter of history, the tragedy that befell the Assamese Chinese community during and after the Sino-Indian War of 1962. It struck a chord in me, and touched my heart deeply. I took it as my responsibility to bring the story to light, hushed up for almost 45 years. During the war, a community so closely attached to the greater Assamese society suddenly vanished. No one knew where they went nor did anybody try to know what happened to them. I met many victims living in Assam and other parts of India and abroad, especially Hong Kong. It became my mission. It took me four years to assimilate all the facts and write the novel.’
And so was born Makam / Chinatown Days, a coffee table book, The Divided Soul and a documentary ‘War and Tears’.