Assamese Poet Jiban Narah’s The Yellow Metaphor Published by Penguin

A significant milestone for literature from Northeast India has been marked with the publication of The Yellow Metaphor, a collection of poems by Assamese poet Jiban Narah, now released by Penguin Random House India.

The book is a translated anthology of Narah’s poetry and is considered a rare achievement for the region. It is reportedly the first translated poetry collection by a single poet from Northeast India to be published by Penguin, and among only a handful of works in a regional Indian language to receive such recognition from the global publishing house.

The Yellow Metaphor brings together 99 selected poems written over a span of 33 years, reflecting Narah’s long poetic journey and creative evolution. Originally written in Assamese, the poems have been sensitively translated into English by writer and translator Anindita Kar, allowing the poet’s voice to reach a much wider readership.

With this publication, Narah’s poetry is expected to travel beyond regional boundaries and introduce readers across India and abroad to the literary sensibilities of Northeast India. The anthology represents an important step in placing Assamese poetry within the broader landscape of contemporary Indian literature in English translation.

The book has been thoughtfully designed and aesthetically presented, reflecting the reflective tone and lyrical depth of the poems. It is currently available for online pre-order on Amazon.

Readers and poetry enthusiasts are also being encouraged to support independent bookstores by sharing the book on social media. One such initiative invites readers to click a photo with the book and post it on Instagram while tagging and collaborating with The Book Nook.

The publication of The Yellow Metaphor is being viewed by many in literary circles as a moment of pride for Assamese literature and for the wider cultural landscape of Northeast India.