Guwahati: Acclaimed novelist Amitav Ghosh has publicly flagged serious concerns over the publication of an Assamese translation of his landmark novel The Glass Palace, sharply pointing to the lack of author consultation and apparent copyright violations.
In a post on X, Ghosh remarked that while it was “nice” to see an Assamese translation finally appear—26 years after the book’s original publication—the publishers had failed to consult him on key aspects of the edition.
He added that had he been asked, he would have “strongly discouraged” the use of a direct transcription from English as the Assamese title, underscoring what he implied was a careless approach to the translation.
The Assamese version has been published by Banphool Prakashan and translated by Bipul Deury. However, the edition has reportedly been released without obtaining permission from either the author or the original publisher, Penguin India, which first published The Glass Palace in English in 2000.
The development has raised uncomfortable questions about adherence to copyright norms and ethical publishing practices.
The Glass Palace is a sweeping historical novel set across Burma (Myanmar), Bengal, India, and Malaya, tracing events from the Third Anglo-Burmese War and the fall of the Konbaung Dynasty in Mandalay, through the Second World War, to the late 20th century.
The novel is widely regarded as one of Ghosh’s most significant and internationally recognised works.
Northeast Now reached out to translator Bipul Deury seeking his response to the author’s remarks and the issue of permissions. However, a WhatsApp message sent to him remained unanswered at the time of filing this report. Northeast Now will update the story if and when Deury responds.