Bhubaneswar: IAS officer and author Shubha Sarma is back with her second book, ‘The Awasthis of Aamnagri’.
The Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Handloom, Textiles and Handicrafts department said the novel is set in the Hindi heartland and traces the life of a middle-class family during 1970s and 80s. While the book begins with Awasthis’ quest for a bungalow, it follows their individual lives as well as that of the joint family system.
Organised by city-based Bakul Foundation, the virtual book release function on Thursday was attended eminent writer Dr Pratibha Ray, author Debashish Panigrah and executive director of Sambad group Tanaya Patnaik.
“Home is home of all great literature and Sarma’s absorbing tale unfolds the saga of a family holding on to its customs to conflicts and a sense of displacement. The free-flowing, spontaneous narrative style is appealing,” said Ray.
Panigrahi said that the book has all the ingredients of a best seller. “Shubha is a gifted writer and has a wonderful command over the language, often laced with lyrical grace,” he added.
The book has been published by Niyogi Books.
