He is an internationally reputed author, freelance journalist and social commentator based in Assam. Acknowledged as a pioneer of English writing in the North-East, he writes short fiction, long fiction, non-fiction, newspaper editorials, articles and columns, satirical pieces, etc., for adults and adventure novels for young people. In a five-decade-long career, he has authored 40 books including The Anagarika’s Swansong (2009), The Bag (2018), The Brahmaputra (2001), Unicornis (1991), Cha Garam-The Tea Story (2001), The Roving Minstrel (2002), The Ahoms (2022), Saint; Saviour; Soul; Society (2024), The Kaziranga Trail (1978), The Blind Witness 1983), etc. He has been conferred numerous awards, including Padma Shri by Government of India in 2018, D. Litt. (Honoris causa) by Dibrugarh University in 2018 and Gauhati University in 2020, and prestigious Madhavdev Award in 2022. His official website is arupkumardutta.com.