A BRIEF STUDY OF BASANTA DAS'S SHORT STORIES

Abstract

Among the various branches of Assamese literature, the short story holds a significant place. Introduced by the literary pioneer Lakshminath Bezbarua, the short story genre entered Assamese literature through the pages of the magazine ‘Jonaki’. Since the Jonaki era to the present, Assamese short stories have evolved and flourished in the hands of various authors. Basanta Das is one such prominent contemporary storyteller.

 A dedicated advocate of Karbi culture, Basanta Das has made immense contributions to Assamese literature and the Karbi community through his writings. His stories vividly reflect the life, society, and culture of the Karbi people. Particularly, his stories set against the backdrop of Karbi hills present a lively depiction of tribal life, traditional beliefs, customs, superstitions, festivals, and the intimate relationship between Karbi people and nature.

This discussion aims to provide a concise study of Basanta Das’s short stories, specifically ‘Aachor’, ‘Tongi’, and ‘Aranyar Saa’.