A collection as unprecedented as it is captivating, Lapbah―a title inspired by Lapbah Sohra, Sohra’s monsoon deluge―is a magnificent anthology in two volumes that brings together fifty-seven compelling tales by fifty-two of the finest writers from the North-east. It presents, for the first time, voices from all eight states of the region, seamlessly blending original works in English with masterful translations of those written in the regional languages.

The collection offers a rich tapestry of themes and styles through writing by the likes of Indira Goswami, Temsüla Ao, Mamang Dai, Anjum Hasan, Homen Borgohain, Saurabh Kumar Chaliha and Lummer Dai. The stories, emanating from the many different linguistic, literary and ethnic cultures, range from the traditionally heart-rending tales of Arup Kumar Dutta and Rashmi Narzary to the darkly humorous social and political satires of S.J. Duncan and Wan Kharkrang and the fantastical worlds of Jahnavi Barua and Harekrishna Deka, where reality mixes freely with the surreality of dream and fantasy.

Lapbah, compiled and edited by Kynpham Sing Nongkynrih and Rimi Nath, is a celebration of voices as diverse and multifaceted as the region itself, offering readers a profound and moving literary experience.