And the Teesta Flows… is the biography of a mountain river—the Teesta. The
book traces the river’s course right form its origin in North Sikkim to its
confluence with the Brahmaputra in Bangladesh. However, what lies as an
undertone in this narrative is the story of a girl—Teesta, the river her
namesake—who lived to see only thirteen summers. Authors Utpal and Samita
Chauduri have constantly travelled to the Himalayas seeking a reflection of
their daughter in the perennial flow of the river Teesta. Thus begins a story.
Written in the style of a diary without chronology, the book sketches the
diversity of the people living by the Teesta, delineating the tales of their
philosophies, their lifestyles, their livelihoods and their emotions. The
anecdotes that find place in the narrative are the authors’ first-hand
experiences of interactions with them. A memoir, a piece of dedication, an
offering in remembrance of a loved one, call it what you may, this book is
bound to touch your heart.