Abirata Jatra marks Dr Chowdhury’s literary debut, conceived during the politically charged Assam Movement in which she was an underground activist. The novel, awarded the first prize in a competition organized by the Asom Sahitya Sabha, heralded her arrival in Assamese literature with a work deeply embedded in the socio-political realities of the time.

Distinguished for its incisive portrayal of Assam’s volatile landscape, the novel is shaped by the author’s firsthand experiences as an activist, offering an unvarnished depiction of the era’s ideological fervor and societal upheavals. At its core, the narrative follows a protagonist who faces various personal and societal challenges, reflecting the broader themes of resilience, human endurance, and the conflicts between tradition and modernity.

Rendered with emotional depth and introspective nuance, Abirata Jatra is more than a chronicle of an individual’s quest for purpose—it is an exploration of the inexorable passage of time and the weight of societal expectations. Its significance transcends literary merit, serving as both a historical testament and a reflection of the collective aspirations and disillusionments of the Assamese people during a transformative epoch.

Dr. Chowdhury’s adept synthesis of personal experience with larger socio-political currents cements the novel’s status as a cornerstone of Assamese literature. The narrative reveals an incredible maturity and depth of thinking in the young author – barely out of her teens – and foreshadows the profound and expansive contributions she would later make to the literary canon.