Day 88. This laal-paar taant is a story of strength, of courage, of victory over circumstances, of the power of good will, of fandom fulfilled. It is perhaps the most precious of saris in my wardrobe. For, it is a gift from none other than Mr Amitav Ghosh, an author whose works I have loved and revered. When my husband Achintya came home after meeting him one evening and handed me this sari, saying “Amitavda pathiyechhen (Amitavda has sent this)”, I was left speechless. Not even in my most fanciful of dreams would I have ever expected a gift from the author himself. This was soon after The Hungry Tide was published and he continued to frequent the Sunderbans. On one such trip, he had picked this from the Tagore Society for Rural Development workshop run by Tushar Kanjilal at Rangabelia. I could, and still can, imagine the women weaving these saris, each with a story of great fortitude. Women who are no less Durga in their own lives. I am fortunate to have visited the Rangabelia centre with Achintya on a trip to the Sunderbans. The Hungry Tide was still fresh in our hearts and minds and it was a pilgrimage of sorts. I remember meeting a young doctor there whose story of leaving the comforts of the city and working at the hospital in Rangabelia reminded me of a young Nirmal. Every time I have worn this sari, I have visualised Moyna, one of my favourite characters from the book, wearing this sari. Moyna, like the other women in The Hungry Tide – the dedicated Neelima, the determined Pia and, of course, Kusum with all her quiet dignity – are Durgas in their own right, the very embodiment of Shakti. What then could be a more suitable sari to wear on Dashami? Shubho Bijoya everyone. Here’s wishing all the wonderful women on the #100sareepact and everyone else happiness and strength till the next Puja. Aschhe bochor abar hobe!
PS: The blouse is stitched from an Assamese gamochha. And my shakha-pola on their annual day out.