Assam remembers noted Assamese Litterateur and Writer Dr Indira Goswami, fondly known by her pen name Mamoni Raisom Goswami on her 11th death anniversary today on Tuesday, November 29.
Born on 14 November 1942 Mamoni Raisom Goswami also popularly addressed as Mamoni Baideo was an eminent Assamese editor, poet, professor, scholar and writer. Mamoni Raisom Goswami , a celebrated writer of contemporary Indian literature was the recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award, the Jnanpith Award and Principal Prince Claus Laureate.
In 1962, she published her first collection of short stories, “Chinaki Morom”, when she was a student.
Her autobiography “Adhalekha Dastabez ” was published in series in a weekly newspaper “Nilachal” from 1968 in her pen-name “Mamoni Raisom Goswami”.
In the year 1969, Mamoni Raisom Goswami was invited by Upendra Lekharu to join the Institution of Oriental Philosphy in Brindaban. She wrote the novel “The Blue Necked Braja” (Nilakantha Braja) highlighting upon the exploitation of the ‘Radhaswamis’ of Vrindavan.
Many of her works have been translated into English from Assamese. Notable among them are “The Moth Eaten Howdah of the Tusker”, “Pages Stained with Blood”, “The Man from Chinnamasta”.
Her novel Dontal Haatir Uiye Khowa Haoda (The Moth Eaten Howdah of a Tusker) was made into a film named Adajya (1996) by Dr Santwana Bordoloi. Adajya, won several national and international film-festival awards and was also made into two television mini series where renowned actress Nandita Das played the role of Giribala in one of the mini-series.
“Words from the Mist” is a documentary film made on the life of Goswami by Renowned Assamese Filmmaker, Jahnu Baruah.
Taking to Twitter, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal paid tribute to the celebrated writer. He said, “With unique creations Mamoni Raisom Goswami has enriched the vast treasury of Assamese and Indian literature. Her thoughtful and interesting writings are well received among readers. I remember her with deep respect on her death anniversary today.”
অনন্য সৃষ্টিৰাজিৰে মামণি ৰয়ছম গোস্বামী বাইদেৱে অসমীয়া তথা ভাৰতীয় সাহিত্যৰ বৰভঁৰালটো সমৃদ্ধ কৰি থৈ গৈছে। গভীৰ বিষয়বস্তু সম্বলিত তেখেতৰ চিন্তাশীল আৰু মনোগ্ৰাহী লেখাসমূহ পঢ়ুৱৈসকলৰ মাজত যথেষ্ট সমাদৃত। আজি পুণ্যতিথিত বাইদেউক গভীৰ শ্ৰদ্ধাৰে সুঁৱৰিছোঁ। #MamoniRaisomGoswami pic.twitter.com/tcn1x7jn4F
— Sarbananda Sonowal (Modi Ka Parivar) (@sarbanandsonwal) November 29, 2022
The distinguished Litterateur passed away on November 29, 2011at the age of 69 years.
Novels By Mamoni Raisom Goswami —
- 1972 Chinavar Srota(The Chenab’s Current)
- 1976 Neelkanthi Braja (The Blue-Necked Braja), translated by Gayatri Bhattacharya; Zubaan Books, 2013)
- 1980 Ahiron
- 1980 Mamore Dhora Tarowal aru Dukhon Uponyas(The Rusted Sword and Two Other Novels)
- 1980 Budhosagor Dhukhor Geisha Aru Mohammed Musa
- 1988 Datal Hatir Une Khowa Howda(The Moth Eaten Howdah of a Tusker translated by the author, Rupa Publications)
- 1989 Udaybhanur Choritro
- Nangoth Sohor
- 2001 Tej Aru Dhulire Dhusarita Prishtha(Pages Stained With Blood)
- Dashorothir Khuj(Dashorothi’s Footsteps)
- 2005 Chinnamastar Manuhtotranslated as (The Man from Chinnamasta translated by Prasanta Goswami, Katha)
- 2009 “Thengphakhri Tehsildaror Tamor Taruwal” (“The Bronze Sword of Thengphakhri Tehsildar”) translated by Aruni Kashyap, published by Zubaan Books, 2013)
Autobiography- “Adhalekha Dastabez ” (An Unfinished Document) which is translated to most of the Indian languages.
Short stories
- Beasts
- Dwarka and His Gun
- Parasu’s Well
- The Journey
- Sanskar
- To Break a Begging Bowl
- Udang Bakach
- Relive
Poetry
- Pain and Flesh
- Pakistan
- Ode To A Whore
Non Fiction works of Mamoni Raisom : Ramayana from Ganga to Brahmaputra which is based on her research of Kotha Ramayana.
Awards and Honour of Mamoni Raisom Goswami
1982 – Sahitya Akademi Award (for Mamore Dhora Tarowal)
1989 – Bharat Nirman Award
1992 – Sauhardya Award of Uttar Pradesh Hindi Sansthan of Government of India.
1993 – Katha National Award for Literature
1996 – Kamal Kumari Foundation National Award in 1996
2000 – Jnanpith Award
2002 – D Litt Degree from Rabindra Bharati University, West Bengal
2002 – Mahiyoshi Jaymati Award with a citation in gold by Ahom Court of Assam
2002 – Padma Shri (She refused to accept)
2007 – D Litt Degree from Rajiv Gandhi University Arunachal Pradesh
2008 – D Litt Degree from Indira Gandhi National Open University
2008 – Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar Gold Plate from Asiatic Society
2008 – Principal Laureate Prince Claus Award[26]
2009 – Krishnakanta Handique Award, Asom Sahitya Sabha
Awarded the Ambassador for Peace from the Inter Religious and International Federation for World Peace
The International Tulsi Award from Florida International University for her book, Ramayana From Ganga To Brahmaputra
