STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI, Sept 9: Into the Hidden Valley, a novel written by Stuart Blackburn, which portrays the impact of the forces of colonialism on a settled civilization, the Apatani tribe of Aruchal Pradesh during British India, has bagged the M M Bennetts Award for Historical Fiction 2016 in the UK. Blackburn was presented the award at the HNS Conference in Oxford.
The book, published by Speaking Tiger, deals with a little-known episode in the colonial history of British India, where Blackburn vividly highlights the world of the Apatanis.
His exploration of what happens when this settled civilisation forcibly collides with British Empire sensitively portrays the impact of the forces of colonialism on both sides.
'Into the Hidden Valley' was chosen for the award ahead of Hele Page Schrader's 'Defender of Jerusalem' and 'Allegiance' by Kermit Roosevelt.
The award is med in memory of writer-historian Bennetts who was a specialist in early 19th century British history and the poleonic wars.
The novel dramatises the colonial encounter with tribes by telling two stories, one of a British official and the other of a tribesman. The writter says he first became interested in the Tibeto-Burman-speaking tribes of northeast India when he went to Aruchal Pradesh in 1999. "I spent a large part of the next decade researching the cultures and oral traditions of one particular group, the Apatanis, who live in the hidden valley of the story. Two of my monographs document their storytelling arts," Blackburn said. US-born Blackburn authored and edited 16 books on Indian culture and folklore, mainly in south India (where his first novel "Murder in Melur" is set) and northeast India.