Yaatra
Yaatra is an Assamese literary and cultural journal published in English from Guwahati, India.
Last updated August 31, 2026
Overview
Yaatra, formally described as Yaatra, The Journal of Assamese Literature and Culture, is a literary magazine associated with the North-East Foundation in Guwahati, Assam. The publication was launched in 2005 with the stated purpose of increasing awareness of Assamese literature beyond its original linguistic setting. Its editorial approach centers on translating Assamese literary works into English, thereby making regional writing accessible to readers who may not read Assamese and placing Assamese literary culture in a wider Indian and international English-language context. The journal is also concerned with Assamese culture more broadly, rather than functioning solely as a general-interest periodical. The magazine was founded and edited by Dhrubajyoti Bora. Available reference material identifies Bora as the publication's founder and editor, indicating that editorial leadership and the journal's cultural mission have been closely connected since its establishment. As of 2016, transgender activist Aruni Kashyap was identified as an assistant editor, reflecting an editorial structure that included contributors engaged with contemporary social and cultural issues. The available material does not establish the magazine's current publication frequency, circulation, distribution model, ownership arrangements beyond its association with the North-East Foundation, or whether it remains active. Accordingly, Yaatra is best characterized as a regionally focused literary publication with an English-language translation and cultural-preservation mission, rather than as a mass-market consumer brand or a commercial publishing group.
History
Yaatra was launched in 2005 as a literary and cultural journal based in Guwahati, Assam. It was published by the North-East Foundation and developed around a specific cultural and linguistic purpose: to broaden awareness of Assamese literature by presenting translations of Assamese literary works in English. This approach positioned the journal as a bridge between Assamese-language literary production and readers who use English as their primary or secondary language. The publication's focus reflects the broader challenge faced by regional literatures in multilingual societies. Assamese writing has a substantial literary tradition, but access to it can be limited for readers outside the Assamese-language community. By commissioning or publishing English translations, Yaatra sought to make that body of work available to a wider audience while retaining its connection to Assamese literary and cultural identity. Its title and stated remit indicate that the journal covered culture alongside literature, although the available reference material does not provide a complete catalogue of its sections, contributors, issue frequency, or print circulation. Dhrubajyoti Bora is identified as Yaatra's founder and editor. His role suggests that the journal was shaped as an editorial and cultural initiative rather than as a mass-market magazine brand. The available account also records Aruni Kashyap as an assistant editor in 2016. Kashyap's involvement connected the publication with contemporary cultural and social perspectives, while the journal's central mission remained the translation and dissemination of Assamese literary work. No reliable information in the supplied sources establishes a later relaunch, a change in publisher, a digital transition, a formal closure, or the journal's current operating status. Its present publication schedule, circulation, commercial model, and distribution markets therefore remain unknown. On the documented record, Yaatra is a specialized literary periodical whose importance lies primarily in cultural mediation: it presents Assamese literature and cultural discussion to English-language audiences and contributes to the visibility of literature from Northeast India.
- 2016Aruni Kashyap is identified as assistant editor
Reference material identifies transgender activist Aruni Kashyap as an assistant editor of the journal as of 2016.
- 2005Yaatra is launched
The North-East Foundation launched Yaatra as a journal devoted to Assamese literature and culture, with a mission of publishing English translations of Assamese literary works.
Products and positioning
A regional literary and cultural journal that introduces Assamese writing and cultural expression to English-language readers through translation and editorial publishing.
Yaatra journalLiterary magazine2005
The publication's core offering is its literary journal, which presents Assamese literature and cultural material through an English-language editorial format. Its defining content is the translation of Assamese literary works, allowing readers outside the Assamese-language community to encounter writing from Assam and the wider Northeast Indian cultural context.
Flagship businesses
- Yaatra journal issues featuring English translations of Assamese literature
Leadership
| Name | Title | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Dhrubajyoti Bora | Founder and editorformer | 2005– |
| Aruni Kashyap | Assistant editorformer | –2016 |
Sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/yaatra · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled