Exploring Memory, Identity and Belonging
A Love Letter to Home
An evening of intellectual depth and emotional resonance unfolded at The Write Circle in Shillong, where acclaimed author and humanitarian Shehnab Sahin engaged in a thought-provoking conversation with Pooja Goenka, Ehsaas Woman of Shillong. The session began with a warm welcome by Jyoti Agarwal, Ehsaas Woman of Shillong, setting the stage for an evening of introspection, storytelling, and meaningful dialogue.
At the outset, Sahin challenged the narrative often associated with her career journey. While many describe her as someone who moved from government service to humanitarian work, she clarified, “I was always a humanitarian worker. These four years were an aberration of sorts, and now I’m back to doing what I was always doing.”
Reflecting on her years in conflict zones and refugee settlements across the Middle East, Sahin shared moving accounts of resilience and generosity. Speaking about communities affected by war, she observed, “The spaces that I call home, you don’t see a lot of integration; you see a lot of disintegration.” Yet she recalled how families living in extreme hardship often displayed extraordinary kindness, refusing to let guests pay for meals despite their own struggles.
The conversation then turned to her return to Assam after many years away. Recalling her search for the place she remembered from childhood, Sahin reflected, “I was coming back to look for the Assam of my father. I could not find the thousand fireflies in our courtyards, the sparrows, or the sense of community.” The pandemic further deepened this sense of dislocation as she worked on the frontlines managing quarantine facilities during COVID-19.
