Dehradun, India – Aloka Dasgupta Niyogi, a distinguished
educationist, social entrepreneur, and motivational speaker, is proud to
announce the release of her debut novel, Inheritors of Silence: Four
Generations and a Forgotten Homeland. This poignant work of fiction weaves
together personal history and collective memory, exploring the profound and
lasting effects of the 1947 Partition of India, and the enduring pull of
ancestral roots across generations.
Set against the backdrop of the Partition, Inheritors of
Silence follows the story of Anurima, the firstborn of the fourth generation of
the Dasgupta family. Growing up surrounded by tales of her family's rich
heritage in pre-Partition Bangladesh, Anurima's life is defined by the legacy
of displacement—memories of a home that no longer exists. These "silent
heirlooms," passed down from her aunt Mihir Kumari (her Rangapishi), carry
the weight of trauma and love, history and loss.
In 1991, as Anurima juggles the demands of marriage and
motherhood, a vivid dream beckons her to reclaim her roots by visiting the
forgotten homeland that exists only in memory. As she embarks on this emotional
journey, Anurima not only seeks to reconnect with the land of her ancestors,
but also with her own identity and sense of self—something lost in the fissures
of history caused by the Partition.
“This novel is a journey of self-discovery and the search
for a lost connection,” says Dr. Niyogi. “The Partition was not just a
political event—it was an emotional upheaval, one that reverberated across
generations. The memories of displacement, of a homeland we can never truly
return to, stay with us. They shape who we are, who we become. Inheritors of
Silence is an exploration of how those memories, those ‘silent heirlooms,’ are
carried forward and passed down through the generations.”
At the core of the novel is the theme of identity—how it is
shaped by history, by the places we come from, and by the stories we inherit.
Dr. Niyogi’s beautifully crafted narrative examines the deep emotional scars
left by Partition, the painful cleaving of communities and families, and the
struggle to forge a sense of belonging in a world that has changed irrevocably.
Dr. Aloka Dasgupta Niyogi is a multifaceted personality
whose career spans across education, social entrepreneurship, and the literary
world. She is the founder of The Literary Table (TLT), a leading platform for
promoting literature and fostering a community of book lovers in Dehradun.
Under her leadership, TLT has grown into a significant annual event with the
TLT Liter
ature & Arts Festival attracting prominent authors and readers
from all over India. TLT is an initiative of the Arogya Wellbeing Trust, a charitable
organization dedicated to promoting social causes through arts and culture.
Dr. Niyogi’s academic background includes a post-graduate
degree in Science and a Post-graduate Diploma in Management. She has been part
of the prestigious Fullbright-Hayes Group Scholarship program and has served in
various leadership roles throughout her career, including as a Soft Skills
Trainer for scientists at DRDO and as the Public Relations Officer to the
Governor of Uttarakhand. A passionate reader, singer, and traveler, Dr. Niyogi
brings a wealth of experience and insight to her writing.
Inheritors of Silence is a heartfelt and moving exploration
of the personal and collective impact of Partition, and the deep, lasting need
to reconnect with one’s roots. Through Anurima’s story, Dr. Niyogi invites
readers to reflect on their own connections to family, heritage, and the land
that shaped them, urging them to acknowledge and honor the silent memories that
persist across generations.
The novel is now available for purchase on major online
platforms.
Purchase link : https://amzn.in/d/6htAI0T
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