An evening of intellectual depth and emotional resonance unfolded at The Write Circle in Shillong, where acclaimed author and humanitarian Shehnab Sahin engaged in a thought-provoking conversation with Pooja Goenka, Ehsaas Woman of Shillong. The session began with a warm welcome by Jyoti Agarwal, Ehsaas Woman of Shillong, setting the stage for an evening of introspection, storytelling, and meaningful dialogue.
At the outset, Sahin challenged the narrative often associated with her career journey. While many describe her as someone who moved from government service to humanitarian work, she clarified, “I was always a humanitarian worker. These four years were an aberration of sorts, and now I’m back to doing what I was always doing.”
Reflecting on her years in conflict zones and refugee settlements across the Middle East, Sahin shared moving accounts of resilience and generosity. Speaking about communities affected by war, she observed, “The spaces that I call home, you don’t see a lot of integration; you see a lot of disintegration.” Yet she recalled how families living in extreme hardship often displayed extraordinary kindness, refusing to let guests pay for meals despite their own struggles.
The conversation then turned to her return to Assam after many years away. Recalling her search for the place she remembered from childhood, Sahin reflected, “I was coming back to look for the Assam of my father. I could not find the thousand fireflies in our courtyards, the sparrows, or the sense of community.” The pandemic further deepened this sense of dislocation as she worked on the frontlines managing quarantine facilities during COVID-19.
One of the evening’s most poignant moments came when Sahin spoke about becoming acutely aware of her religious identity. Recounting an incident where a stranger assumed she would not contribute to a Hindu festival because of her Muslim name, she admitted the experience deeply affected her. These reflections eventually formed the emotional foundation of her book Color My Grave Purple.
Explaining the title, she shared that the colour purple was inspired by the blossoms of the Queen Crepe Myrtle tree, her father’s favourite. Through fiction, she sought to honour his memory and explore questions of belonging, grief, and identity.
The session concluded with an engaging audience interaction, followed by a heartfelt vote of thanks by Jyoti Agarwal. The author was felicitated by Patricia Mukhim before warmly interacting with readers during a book-signing session.
This session of The Write Circle was organized with the support of Ehsaas Women of Shillong, in association with Oil India; Hospitality Partner, Taj Vivanta
