A Stanza of Sunlight on the Banks of Brahmaputra

A Stanza of Sunlight on the Banks of Brahmaputra is the historic first collaborative Indo-British bilingual book of poetry in English and Assamese, under the joint authorship of novelist, short-story writer, columnist and poet Arnab Jan Deka and poet, blogger and novelist Tess Joyce. The book received wider international acclaim and recognition as a major literary work in the genre of Indo-British literature. This book was first published in 2009, from both UK and India, by Philling Books(UK) and Spectrum Publications(India).

This book contains some poems composed in 2009 by famous British poet, environmentalist and novelist Tess Joyce together with some of the early poems of Arnab Jan Deka composed during his school-student days, which were earlier compiled in his first Assamese book of poetry Ephanki Rhode in 1983. That first book of poetry made him a major writer in India, with many more titles added to his literary reservoir later on. His status as a leading Indian litterateur of the 20th century was acknowledged by India Government's official Academy of Letters Sahitya Academy, when its President and top Indian litterateur-critic Dr Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya wrote an evocative critical essay on his poetry, and subsequently, the author's literary biography was incorporated in the End Century Edition of the Academy's prestigious publication Who's Who of Indian Writers 1999.
Themes of poetry of both the poets revolved in and around the banks of the mighty river Brahmaputra, which flows through three most populous countries China, India and Bangladesh. Poems contain both scenic and evocative, spiritual contents, and also highlights the environmental fragility of the river and its surrounding flora and fauna.
Famous literary critic Arindam Barooah in a writing published in the oldest and highest circulated English daily in Northeast India The Assam Tribune highlighted the genesis of the book with these words-- "Arnab Jan Deka, a popular short story writer, columnist and an environmentalist in Assamese and English and Tess Joyce, a British poet and environmentalist have jointly came up with a beautiful, evocative piece of writing titled ‘A Stanza of Sunlight on the Banks of Brahmaputra’ published by Spectrum Publications to the world of Assamese and English literature. A mélange of poems both in Assamese and English, which reflects the beauty of the Brahmaputra and its milieu, cultures of the riverine people in a poetical and emblematic approach. An impression to its essence of nature embracing the historical civilization still continues to hold." The same writing continues with more details about the various stages of birth of the book-- "Though the mystical yet riveting Brahmaputra has always been the most liked metaphor in major literary works of several writers and poets, but, Arnab Deka’s and Tess Joyce’s poems have something unique to say to arouse readers’ inquisitive senses. It was Joyce’s fondness for the Brahmaputra that led to the publication of the book jointly with Arnab Jan Deka, when she experienced Assam. For her, the Brahmaputra is the epitome of that gold, when the reflection of sun rays of the setting sun descends into the mighty river, the hue metamorphoses into golden trough. Moreover, with the release the book, all the authors' proceeds will go to an awareness campaign Save the Brahmaputra River charity launched by the global non-profit NGO Assam Foundation-India. The campaign is to protect the river from the dumped waste, water pollution, soil erosion at the banks and flooding, as well as threats to wildlife, including the endangered river dolphins and also creating awareness about the threats and benefits of dams being constructed in and around the Brahmaputra River."