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Assam loses a humanist author
A humanist, reformist and a prolific and brave writer - that is how one can project Assamese author Dr. Indira Goswami. Popularly known as Mamoni Raisom Goswami to millions of literary fans, the legendary story-teller died on November 29th in GMC Hospital. Mamoni Raisom, 69, was under treatment for some time and the end came at 7: 45 am.
As the news of her demise spread like wildfire, people across sections of the society gathered at the medical hospital campus to pay their last respects. For one day, Mamoni Raisom’s mortal remains were housed at her residence in Guwahati for public tributes and she was cremated with full honours on the next day at Navagraha cremation ground.
After Bhupen Hazarika, Mamoni Raisom was the most celebrated personality in Assamese society and unfortunately both the icons have left the people of Assam within a very short span of time. The people of Assam have thus experienced the irreparable loss of Bhupenda and Mamoni Baideu in the same month (November 2011). Shocked and grief stricken, they did not leave any stone unturned to pay their heartiest tributes to both.
| Popularly known as Mamoni Raisom Goswami to millions of literary fans, the legendary story-teller died on November 29th in GMC Hospital. Mamoni Raisom, 69, was under treatment for some time and the end came at 7: 45 am. |
Hence thousands of fans assembled at the cremation ground where Mamoni Baideu was consigned to flames. Numerous organizations had expressed their profound grief at the demise of the great humanist writer. The local media, both print and electronic, had dedicated fitting space for Mamoni Baideu’s last journey. If the newspapers gave entire front pages to the reformist author, the television channels covered her eternal voyage for many hours.
Born on 14th November 1942 to a Brahmin family of Kamrupa, Mamoni Baideu started her school education in Guwahati. Later her educationist father Umakanta Goswami brought her to Pine Mount School in Shillong (then the capital of undivided Assam). She returned to Guwahati to study literature at Cotton College. Finally she shifted to New Delhi to teach MIL in Delhi University.
Mamoni Baideu married Madhaven Raisom Ayengar, a south Indian construction engineer but their conjugal life continued only for 18 months. A tragic car accident in Kashmir snatched away her husband and without any children, Mamoni Baideu found herself mentally and physically destabilized. But she did not give up and bounced back as a creative writer.
Mamoni Baideu had won a number of awards including Sahitya Akademi (1983), Katha National Award for Literature (1993), Kamal Kumari Foundation Award (1996), Principal Prince Claus Award (2008), but her winning of Jnanpith Award (2000) brought laurels to Assamese literature. After Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya, Mamoni Baideu is the second Jnanpith awardee from Assam. Not only has she penned some outstanding short stories and novels, Mamoni Baideu also took a brave initiative to bring the banned United Liberation Front of Asom leaders to the negation table. The ULFA leadership also supported the approach and they formed a People’s Consultative Group in 2005 to purse talks with New Delhi. Initially these proceeded well, but even though the talks did not come to a conclusive end, the people appreciated her bold initiative.
November has been a month of mourning for the people of Assam in particular and of the North East in general. The passing of two great icons in the form of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika and Dr. Indira Goswami has left a void in the cultural landscape of Assam and the North East region. Though their physical presence has left us, their influence through their life’s endeavours and achievements will remain with us for generations to come. May they both rest in peace.
EP Desk
