The Rainbow Runners-Dhrubajyoti Borah

Book: The Rainbow Runners
Author & Translator: Dhrubajyoti Borah
Publisher: Thornbird (An imprint of Niyogi Books)

I was provided a media copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Do you think that we can move away from our past deeds?

Sriman is a young man living in insurgency-hit Assam whose life turns upside down when he happens to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. The raw terror which fills Sriman after witnessing the incident leaves him paranoid. Existing as a terrified zombie, unable to share his secret with anyone, Sriman drifts through the murky world of journalism into the world of the dadas—the erstwhile underground leaders who surrendered to the state and then started working for it. And it is at such a time that he again faces a terrifying encounter that unhinges him. In the Himalayas, Sriman learns to look at the world and himself in a new way, discovers the teachings of Tathagata Buddha and gains an insight into the tragedy of the Tibetan refugees and their improbable dream of restoration of their homeland someday. And it is here that he also discovers love in all its splendour and sorrow, with its promise of redemption of his sheltered and fragmented life.

The book explores the theme of conflict in Assam and how that impacts the general populace of the area. The author beautifully, through the eyes of the protagonist, shows how it impacts the mindset of a person when they live in a conflict zone, and how that can alter a person’s perception of life and psyche. The book is very well written, and despite being almost 400+ pages long, there is never a dull moment that makes you keep the book away. Another aspect of the book I loved was how the author brings to light the viewpoint of the Tibetan refugees and their constant struggle. These two narratives have been interwoven quite nicely and you realise that the idea that the author wanted to highlight was that of how conflicts impact psyche of the people embroiled in it. The one scene that stayed in my mind was when they go to “Gateway to Heaven” and the similarities with the end of Mahabharata when the Pandavas are ascending to heaven. The overall plot is a story of redemption and how the past can be a albatross around our necks, until we take charge and take steps to change our lives.

I liked how the character of Sriman was sketched and his journey throughout the book. right from the very first page, there are a series of events that impact Sriman, and the first part of the book aptly sets the base of the character arc for him. In the second part of the book, we see the transformation and get into the thought process of the person when he is removed from that environment. Another character that I liked was that of Ramen, primarily because of his loyalty and his commitment to his friend. Another aspect of his character I liked was his quick thinking and being street smart.

Overall, this is a wonderful story, and a translation which does not feel dry or lose its emotion at any point. The book scores a 4.75/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book from your nearest bookstore or on Amazon India.