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{{Short description|Political Science Book}}
{{Infobox book
| italic title =
| name = ULFA: The Mirage of Dawn
| image = ULFA The Mirage of Dawn.jpg
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| author = [[Rajeev Bhattacharyya]]
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| subject = [[ULFA]] & [[Assam]]
| genre = Political Science
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| publisher = [[HarperCollins]]
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| pub_date = 2023
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| pages = 400
| awards =
| isbn = 978-93-5699-308-2
| isbn_note = Hardcover
| oclc = 1391328707
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'''''ULFA: The Mirage of Dawn''''' is a [[non-fiction]] political science book about [[Assam]]'s banned militant organization [[ULFA]]. It is written by journalist [[Rajeev Bhattacharyya]] and published by [[HarperCollins]] in 2023.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Narzary |first=Derhasat |last2=Basumatary |first2=Jenthoka |date=2025-04-03 |title=ULFA: The Mirage of Dawn: by Rajeev Bhattacharyya, India, HarperCollins, 2023, 409 pp., Rs. 599 (Paperback), P-ISBN: 978-93-5699-308-2; E-ISBN: 978-93-5699-304-4 |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09592318.2025.2459151 |journal=Small Wars & Insurgencies |language=en |volume=36 |issue=3 |pages=611–613 |doi=10.1080/09592318.2025.2459151 |issn=0959-2318|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

== Overview ==
[[Rajeev Bhattacharyya]], a journalist and author of multiple books from Assam, renders exclusive research on [[United Liberation Front of Asom|ULFA]] from starting to its separation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mr Rajeev Bhattacharyya {{!}} Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs |url=https://www.aidiaasia.org/speaker/298/bio |website=Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs |access-date=28 September 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Unveiling ULFA: Rajeev Bhattacharyya's new book uncovers history of the outlawed separatist outfit |url=https://theprint.in/softcover/unveiling-ulfa-rajeev-bhattacharyas-new-book-uncovers-history-of-the-outlawed-separatist-outfit/1890703/ |website=[[ThePrint]] |access-date=28 September 2025 |date=19 December 2023 |archive-date=19 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231219080212/https://theprint.in/softcover/unveiling-ulfa-rajeev-bhattacharyas-new-book-uncovers-history-of-the-outlawed-separatist-outfit/1890703/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kashyap |first1=Samudra Gupta |title=Guwahati-based journalist detained in Myanmar freed |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/web/guwahatibased-journalist-detained-in-myanmar-freed/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=28 September 2025 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=5 December 2011 |language=en |archive-date=12 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231012171718/https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/web/guwahatibased-journalist-detained-in-myanmar-freed/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Pradip Phanjoubam writing for ''[[The Tribune (India)|The Tribune]]'' emphasized that the book covered wide range of interviews, and, it included testimonies of rooted ULFA cadres to its heavyweight leaders giving an inner view of all plausible development of relevance."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Phanjoubam |first1=Pradip |title='The Mirage of Dawn' by Rajeev Bhattacharyya charts the dynamics and motivations of ULFA |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/book-reviews/the-mirage-of-dawn-by-rajeev-bhattacharyya-charts-the-dynamics-and-motivations-of-ulfa-585057/ |access-date=5 October 2025 |work=[[The Tribune (India)|The Tribune]] |date=28 January 2024 |language=en |archive-date=9 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240209233242/https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/book-reviews/the-mirage-of-dawn-by-rajeev-bhattacharyya-charts-the-dynamics-and-motivations-of-ulfa-585057 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Sudipta Datta from ''[[The Hindu]]'' writes "For his new book, ''The Mirage of Dawn'', Rajeev Bhattacharyya travelled the ULFA trail which took him to remote places in Assam — to rebel camps in Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan and New Delhi. He writes about the outfit’s “conflicting accounts of its history, the internecine squabbles within and the wide range of clandestine activities in neighbouring countries, not all of which were known to all of its own leadership.”<ref>{{cite news |last1=Datta |first1=Sudipta |title=The portrait of an insurgent movement: the rise and decline of ULFA |url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/the-portrait-of-an-insurgent-movement-the-rise-and-decline-of-ulfa/article67701783.ece |url-access=subscription |access-date=8 October 2025 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=4 January 2024 |language=en-IN |archive-date=26 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226112356/https://www.thehindu.com/books/the-portrait-of-an-insurgent-movement-the-rise-and-decline-of-ulfa/article67701783.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>

Jayanta Kalita for ''[[The Times of India]]'' digging into deep of the book and zeroed that the ULFA chief Paresh Baruah was able to obtain 600 weapons from a deal with [[Mossad]] from [[Romania]]-[[Ukraine]] to [[Bangladesh]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kalita |first1=Jayanta |title=How a 'Mossad agent' helped Ulfa seal its first weapons' deal |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/how-a-mossad-agent-helped-ulfa-seal-its-first-weapons-deal/articleshow/105435705.cms |access-date=9 October 2025 |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=23 November 2023 |archive-date=8 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240908043801/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/how-a-mossad-agent-helped-ulfa-seal-its-first-weapons-deal/articleshow/105435705.cms |url-status=live }}</ref>

''[[ETV Network|ETV Bharat]]'' commented that the book unearthed about four killing attacks against [[Paresh Baruah]].<ref>{{cite news |title=ৰোমানিয়াৰ জাহাজত আলফাৰ অস্ত্ৰ অহাৰ পিচত কেনেকৈ বন্দী হৈছিল পৰেশ বৰুৱা ? |url=https://www.etvbharat.com/as/!state/who-trapped-ulfa-i-chief-paresh-baruah-for-two-months-ass24021205246 |access-date=29 January 2026 |work=[[ETV Network|ETV Bharat News]] |date=12 February 2024 |language=as}}</ref>

== Critical reception ==
Reviewing the book [[Sweden|Swedish]] [[journalist]] [[Bertil Lintner]] opined "The book was also written recently enough to include a section about events after the February 2021 coup in Myanmar—and how the Myanmar military has, reportedly, been using Manipuri groups to fight pro-democracy forces in Chin State and Sagaing Region."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lintner |first1=Bertil |author1-link=Bertil Lintner |title=Assamese Journalist Shines Light on One of Asia's Murkiest Conflicts |url=https://www.irrawaddy.com/culture/books/assamese-journalist-shines-light-on-one-of-asias-murkiest-conflicts.html |access-date=4 October 2025 |work=[[The Irrawaddy]] |date=8 January 2024}}</ref>

Atul K Thakur wrote for ''[[Firstpost]]'' stated that the book covered extensive issues like ''[[Operation Golden Bird]]'', ''[[Sanjoy Ghose|Sanjoy Ghose Killing]]'' to ''[[2004 arms and ammunition haul in Chittagong|Chittagong Arms Haul of 2004]]''."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Thakur |first1=Atul K |title=Book review {{!}} 'ULFA: The Mirage of Dawn' is a gripping narrative on unknown stories of insurgent outfits in North East |url=https://www.firstpost.com/opinion/book-review-ulfa-the-mirage-of-dawn-is-a-gripping-narrative-on-unknown-stories-of-insurgent-outfits-in-north-east-13562622.html |access-date=6 October 2025 |work=[[Firstpost]] |date=31 December 2023 |language=en-us |archive-date=29 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250429101809/https://www.firstpost.com/opinion/book-review-ulfa-the-mirage-of-dawn-is-a-gripping-narrative-on-unknown-stories-of-insurgent-outfits-in-north-east-13562622.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Ashutosh Kumar Thakur of ''[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]]'' wrote that the book’s detailed narrative and new information make it engaging, comparing it to Nirmal Nibedon’s ''The Night of the Guerrillas''. He noted that its ten chapters provide a comprehensive account of the banned group, particularly its overseas links and camps in Bhutan, Myanmar, and Bangladesh."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Thakur |first1=Ashutosh Kumar |title=ULFA: The Mirage Of Dawn—Intriguing And Indispensable |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/books/ulfa-the-mirage-of-dawnintriguing-and-indispensable |access-date=8 October 2025 |work=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook India]] |date=7 April 2024 |language=en |archive-date=12 July 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250712105240/https://www.outlookindia.com/books/ulfa-the-mirage-of-dawnintriguing-and-indispensable |url-status=live }}</ref>

Rajesh Singh for ''[[Republica (newspaper)|Republica]]'' states that the book offers a remarkable history of ''ULFA'', its formation and rise to prominence, the interplay of its principal characters, the role of foreign elements and wane in its influence.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Rajesh |title='ULFA: The Mirage of Dawn' offers a remarkably balanced narration on history of ULFA |url=https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/index.php/news/ulfa-the-mirage-of-dawn-offers-a-remarkably-balanced-narration-on-history-of-ulfa |access-date=9 October 2025 |work=[[Republica (newspaper)|Republica]] |date=8 August 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

A reviewer from ''[[NDTV]]'' noted that the first batch of ULFA militants was trained in Pakistan in 1991 to 1992 in three groups comprising a total of about 40 members. The reviewer also stated that out of those three groups, one group was trained near Peshawar and other members were taken for short visits to Kandahar in Afghanistan and the arms bazaar at Darra Adam Khel near the Safed Koh mountains in Pakistan.<ref>{{cite web |title=When Pak Armed, Trained Assam Insurgents And Sent Them Back To India |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ulfa-mirage-of-dawn-when-pakistan-armed-trained-assam-insurgents-ulfa-and-sent-them-back-to-india-5037838 |website=[[NDTV]] |access-date=12 October 2025 |language=en |archive-date=16 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250616162758/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ulfa-mirage-of-dawn-when-pakistan-armed-trained-assam-insurgents-ulfa-and-sent-them-back-to-india-5037838 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Colonel]] Vivek Chadha (Retd) from ''[[Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses|IDSA]]'' wrote "Bhattacharyya notes the limited success of Operation Bajrang with the initial forays of the army hitting vacated ULFA camps. He further highlights issues of human rights violations that lead to the alienation of the local population (p. 99)."<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Chadha |first1=Vivek |title=ULFA: The Mirage of Dawn |journal=Journal of Defence Studies |date=April–June 2024 |volume=18 |page=178 |url=https://idsa.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/18-2_Vivek-Chadha-13-1.pdf |access-date=26 October 2025 |publisher=[[Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses|IDSA]] |issn=0976-1004}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Political books]]
[[Category:Political science books]]
[[Category:21st-century books]]
[[Category:Assamese people]]

ULFA: The Mirage of Dawn - Revision history

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