Book excerpt: One Long Journey is the extraordinary story of Lohit Datta-Barua, who was born into poverty along the banks of the mighty Brahmaputra River in the remote state of Assam in northeastern India. As a boy, he walked into the beggar and leper colonies of homeless people and untouchables while rounding up his family's wandering cows. Caste-based taboos blocked his marriage to the woman he loved. Secrets surrounding his birth haunted him, and death stalked him. Datta-Barua drew inspiration from Lincoln's Gettysburg address-which he posted on his wall and memorized-to make the seemingly impossible journey to America with $8 in his pocket. He achieved a high-level career worldwide as an oil and gas engineer and became a major force as an early organizer in the Assamese immigrant community throughout North America. As an inspiring contributor to social justice he continues to touch people's lives.