The Black Girl in Search of God by Navakanta Barooah (trans.)

Alighting from a Negro play
Cigar between his teeth
God pronounced:
Let there be light and light
The match-stick set the spring woods alight
Flowers and blood
And the hours of green darkness
Death and agony of the poison-blue sky
In the black silken skin of our beloveds
The saffron cravings
Of the golden lion’s matted mane
Off-springs of the sun
In whose veins run
The colour of death
Flowers and blood
And the slumber of sapless nights
O’ Africa, O’ procreator……….
Our wings sound
Along each tempestuous path
Where’s the light?
Alas, history!

Author : Navakanta Barua 

Nabakanta Barua (29 December 1926 – 14 July 2002) was a prominent Assamese novelist and poet. He was also known as Ekhud Kokaideu. As Sima Dutta he wrote many poems in his early life. He also won the following awards

  • 1974: Assam Prakashan Parisod Award, Mur aru Prithibir
  • 1975: Sahitya Akademi Award to Assamese Writers, Kokadeutar Har
  • 1976: Padma Bhushan, Literature & Education
  • 1993: Assam Valley Literary Award
  • 1998: Kamal Kumari National Award

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