Every mile a memory by Partha Sarthi Sen Sharma is a travelogue written in a more intimate way than one penned from deliberate notes made during the journey. By Ankita Jain
His classmates at college and colleagues cannot believe it. Their picture of Partha Sarthi Sen Sharma is that of a simple, straightforward, brilliant IAS officer. His transformation into an author with the guts to fulfill his dream of writing is a surprise to many.
“I have been writing for the past eight to ten years. As a freelancer writer earlier, I have written for many newspapers and magazines. And then eventually I decided to pen down a book in the year 2011,” Partha says.
Partha Sarthi Sen Sharma’s latest book Every mile a memory, a compilation of his journeys to places far and wide, clearly stays off the beaten track. Consciously avoiding writing about food or hotels, the author looks deep into countries and its people through the prism of history, culture and literature.
Holding the reader’s hand, the Rupa publication takes us through fascinating journeys which eventually become his or her own.
“While I was travelling, I didn’t jot down where I went and what I saw.
This was a deliberate attempt. I wanted to narrate my journey with insights and less known facts,” he says. Written as a compilation of vignette-like chapters, the book covers the author’s sojourns long and short, to destinations popular and obscure, both foreign and closer home.
Divided into four parts, A Bengali in Britain, Criss crossing the continent, Across the straits and An Indian in India, author’s journey, beliefs and ideology prominently figure in the narrative.
“The second section is about parts of Europe and the last one is about my experience of Nainital, Agra, my hometown lucknow among others,” he adds.
Unique terroir adds a particularly pleasing, evocative effect to his brew of travels, complete with adventure and some rather startling revelations. In one such segment, he writes: “After an eventful journey, the highlight of which had been the inevitable topple mid-stream, we reached Kalakankar House, to a surprisingly warm reception by the local populace... Here the great Sumitra Nandan Pant had composed his masterpieces while being a guest of honour of the Raja.
As the rays of the sun reflected on millions of sparkling wavelets, I was told the remarkable tale of Stalin’s daughter, Svetlana, who had arrived in this very house with the ashes of her partner Brajesh Singh before travelling onto Delhi and then the United States to seek political asylum, which she was granted. Her life, her story, seemed to be the stuff of legends, and yet I had never known... I realized how so many tales, so many stories had been lying scattered all around us... if only we had the eyes to see and the ears to listen.”
Keeping in tune with his preference for varied places, Partha, still has a long list of undiscovered regions. In his list figures United States, Africa, Egypt, Andaman and Nicobar, Puducherry and many more.
He is also one of those writers, who equally contribute to hindi literature. “I enjoy writing in Hindi. Even my books get translated in hindi though the english readership is high as per the sale records.”
Currently the author is planning to write a book on the contemporary lucknow. He believes that much has been written about the Nawabs and ancient lucknow.