Mamoni Rasom Goswami passes away
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Guwahati, November 29 2011:
Noted litterateur and Ulfa peace initiator Indira Goswami passed away at the Gauhati Medical College Hospital here on Tuesday at 7.45 am.
She had been suffering from lung infection and was ailing for a long time.
She was 69 .
Known by her pen name Mamoni Raisom Goswami , she was one of the first initiators of the UlfaGovt peace talk.
For her peace efforts, Ulfa formed PCG (People's Consultative Group) in September , 2005 with 11 leading citizens from different strata.
Three rounds of talks between Govt.of India and PCG was held to frame the guidelines of talks.
Later, the initiative of PCG to resolve the Ulfa problem was derailed due to a section of leaders of the outfit's adamant nature not to drop sovereignty demand.
Though Goswami's efforts failed to bring Ulfa to the negotiation table the very process for dialgoue was put on track.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Tuesday after paying floral tribute to her said that Goswami's death was a big loss not only to the Assamese literary arena but the State has also lost a true humanist and a peace lover.
"Mamoni Raisom Goswami was always against violence.
She had faith on peace.
In 2005, she first initiated the peace process and we responded to her efforts.
Today whatever we achieved in the peace process and to bring Ulfa to the negotiation table, she had enough contribution", said Gogoi.
Mamoni Raisom Goswami was faculty member of Dept.
of Modern Indian Language at Delhi University.
She was a prolific Assamese writer and a champion for women's causes.
She was awarded country's highest literary award, Jnanapith Award in 2000 for her contribution to Indian literature.
In 1982, Goswami won ' Sahiyta Academy' award for her novel ' Mamore Dhora Taruwal' .
Her other well known novels included Datal Hatir Uie Khowa Howdah (The Moth-Eaten Howdah of a Tusker) and Chinnamastar Manuhto (The Man from Chinnamasta).
Her autobiography is ' Aadhalekha Dastabez'( An Unfinished Autobiography) .
The novel Chinnamastar Manuhto ( The Man from Chinnamasta), created controversy in Assam as it was a critique of the thousand-years-old tradition of animal sacrifice in the famous Shakti shrine Kamakhya, a mother goddess.
Datal Hatir Uie Khowa Howdah, the novel later made into a national award-winning film 'Adajya', is considered a classic of modern Assamese literature and explores the plight of Assamese Brahmin widows.
Her famed novel 'Neelakantha Braja' was set against the backdrop of Vrindavan and highlights the exploitation of widows there.
Another major piece of her fiction was Jatra (The Journey), based on the problem of militancy that has affected almost all parts of Northern region of the country ever since independence.
In Tej Aru Dhulire Dhusarita Prishtha (Pages Stained With Blood), she writes about the plight of Sikhs in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots following the assassination of Indira Gandhi, the Prime Minister of India.
Goswami was also an exponent in Ramayani Sahitya .
1n 2008, she won the International Tulsi Award from Florida International University for her book, Ramayana From Ganga To Brahmaputra.
She was awarded the Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar Gold Plate from Asiatic Society and also D Litt Degree from Indira Gandhi National Open University in 2008 .
In 2008, the Principal Prince Claus Award was given to Goswami.
The award is given to honor individuals and organizations reflecting a progressive and contemporary approach to the themes of culture and development.
She was the first Indian to be awarded the Principal Price Claus Award ( Euro 1,00,000) .
She donated her entire prize money ( money she won from winning different literary awards) to the state govt.for construction of hospital in her ancestral origin village Amranga in Kamrup district.
Comment
