Kuladhar Saikia, a former director general of police of Assam, is also an acclaimed author and filmmaker. He has 26 short story collections, five plays, a novel and two telefilms to his credit. A winner of Sahitya Akademi award and Katha Prize, he is also a Fulbright Fellow at Pennsylvania State University. If a River and Painting of the Sky and Other Stories are two of his short story collections in English. He is a regular contributor to literary magazines and national dailies. He has been a Guest Speaker in several prestigious educational institutions in India and abroad.