Indira Goswami, the famous Jnanpith award winner from Assam, died at the Gauhati Medical College Hospital this morning at 7.42 am after protracted ill-health. She has been in the hospital for the last six months.
Indira Goswami is known by her pen name “Mamoni Raisom Goswami;” she was also populalry known “Mamoni Baideo”.
- Indira Goswami
She was a renowned scholar: a professor, editor, poet, and writer.
She is also famous for her role as a mediator between the United Liberation Front of Assam – a militant group banned for its secessionist agenda – and the Government of India.
Tarun Gogoi, Chief Minister of Assam, said : “Her death has created a void in the literary scene in India.”
She is the author of several novels, short stories and poems.
He writings are mostly concerned with the women in Assam and on the culture and politics of Assam. Her novel about Assamese Brahmin widows was mae into a film named “Adajya” which has received several awards nationally and internationally. Two TV serials were also based on the novel.
She received several prestigious awards during her long and illustrious life.
In 1982 he received the Sahitya Akademi Award for her book Mamore Dhora Tarowal (The Rusted Sword). shre received the Asom Sahitya Sabha Award in 1988, the Bharat Nirman Award in 1989, the Sauhardya Award of Uttar Pradesh Hindi Sansthan of Government of India 1n 1992, the Katha National Award for Literature in 1992, the Kamal Kumari Foundation Award in 1996, and the Jnanpith Award in 2000.
She was awarded D.Litt by Rabindra Bharati Iniversity, West Bengal, in 2002. She was honoured with D.Litt. by Rajiv Gandhi University, Arunachal Pradesh, in 2007. She was also awarded D.Litt by Indira Gandhi National open University (IGNOU) in 2008.
In 2008, she received the Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar Goldplate from the Asiatic Society, Kolkata.
The Principal Prince Claus Award was bestowed upon her in 2008 – the first ever Indian to receive the award. She donated a substantial part of the prize money to the Public Health Centre of Amranga,Borihat, Assam.
She received the Krishnakanta Handique Award from Asam Sahitya Sabha in 2009.
She is also a recipient of the “Ambassador for Peace” honour from the Inter Religious and International Federation for World Peace.
She is also the recipient of the International Tulsi Award from Florida International University for her book, “Ramayana From Ganga To Brahmaputra”, a much acclaimed comparative study of the Ramacharitmanas of Tulsidas with the Ramayana written by Madhava Kandali in Assamese during the 14th century.
Jahnu Brauah made a film titled “Words from the Mist” on the life of Indira Goswami.
Her body will be on public display at a public ground where the public can pay homage to her. The Government of Assam has announced a State Funeral for the venerable scholar; the last rights are likely to take place tomorrow (Wednesday).
Tags: Indira Goswami Mamoni Baideo
