'Women have played distinctive role in enriching Assamese literature'

A CORRESPONDENT

DOOMDOOMA: "The women of Assam played a distinctive role in enriching Assamese literature and culture in the past when there was practically no scope for learning and in the present times, many distinguished female writers have come out to pen their works on a variety of remarkable subjects," said Dr Junu Mahanta while delivering the first Bina Deka Commemorative Lecture organized by Sadou Asam Lekhika Samaroh Samity, Doomdooma branch, as chief guest recently.

"Even illiterate women could sing Ainam, Nichukoni geet, Dihanam etc which formed a part of folk literature. These songs passed from one generation to the other orally. It was primarily the power of imagination that lay behind their such compositions," she said.

"The publication of Orunodoi created a new era in Assamese literature and it gave rise to many notable authors like Anandaram Dhekial Phukan, Hemchandra Baruah, exceptional woman social activist and writer Chandra Prabha Saikiani. In the modern age, distinguished poets like Nalinibala Devi, Dharmeswari Devi Baruani and Jamuneswari Khataniar contributed immensely for the growth of Assamese literature. Now many new female writers like Arupa Pangia Kalita, Anuradha Sarma Pujari, Juri Saikia, Maushumi Saikia, Sarmistha Pritam have made their mark in writing on many off-beat subjects," she added.

Paying her tribute to Bina Deka, the founder president of Doomdooma Sakha Lekhika Samaroh Samity, Dr Junu Kalita said that she was a pathfinder like Padma Shri Dr Sheela Borthakur, the founder of Sadou Asam Lekhika Samaroh Samity for all-round development of the women in the society.

The open session was presided over by president Kironmoyee Hazarika Baruah. Earlier, the souvenir of the branch, Meghamallar edited by Kakoli Devi Baruah was inaugurated by Bikash Borthakur, an Oil India Limited (OIL) engineer. Another book Naba Prajanmar Sarathi written by Usha Rajkumari Gogoi and wall magazine Jyotisnata edited by Jinu Gohain were released by noted writer and poet Manjul Sarmah and writer Usha Rajkumari Gogoi respectively.

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