Nirupama Borgohain : walking that extra mile with grace and clarity
By A Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, Aug 4 Age has not withered her spirits, but only emboldened her
beliefs. Steadfastly believing humanism to be the highest religion, she has
struggled with her circumstances and walked that extra mile. What is surprising
is that in her long and eventful journey, she gained clarity and grace in
abundance.
This was evident for all those who took part in an interactive session with
eminent litterateur and Sahitya Akademi award winner Nirupama Borgohain, the
Guest of the Month at the Guwahati Press Club today.
In the evening of my life, I can say that I have led an honest life, and have
never compromised with principles. In reason and rationality I have had great
faith and at times I even committed some extreme acts. But such acts have only
strengthened my belief in conduct based on reason, she noted.
On the idea of a supreme power controlling the destiny of human beings, she
said that although she personally did not subscribe to the idea, she would not
deny it either. After all there are values at the heart of many religions,
values which are essentially humanitarian, she said.
Referring to the various events that moulded her sensibilities both as a human
being and as a writer, she pointed to some episodes in the Assam Movement.
Violence committed against women and children touched her, and she could
witness situations, which were not reported in the mainstream media of that
time.
During one of her visits to a relief camp in Nalbari, she saw a six-month old
child, who had serious burn injury on her back. Supporters of the movement had
killed her parents. The small child had no medical attention in the relief
camp. Moved by her plight, Borgohain approached a team of doctors for help, but
the response she received was a shock.
We are not going to help anybody who is a Bangladeshi! one of the doctors
replied. When Borgohain reminded the group of doctors of their oath to serve
people regardless of class creed or religion, the young doctors heaped her with
abuse.
More bad news was in store for her. After the editor of the Nilachal, the paper
she worked in, learnt about her visit to the relief camp, she was sacked from
her post.
From that time, life was another struggle. I applied for the post of a
lecturer at Lalit Chandra Bharali College that would have provided me with a
salary of Rs 50. But that job was denied to me, even though I had experiences
of teaching in several colleges, she mentioned.
Later it was in the same institution that she was feted for her contribution to
literature, making her realise that there are some instances in life that
finally brings recognition if one is true to oneself.
She was candid in admitting that those who created literature in Assam were
still a neglected lot compared to their counterparts outside. It is a lonesome
endeavour, where money could never be an incentive!
But the greater reward is the love and respect that people bestow on writers.
It is that love and affection which brings so much joy, and a genuine sense of
fulfilment.
Asked about her present project, Borgohain revealed that she was working on a
book based on the life of educationist the late Indira Miri. She was one of
those women who struggled against great odds and achieved her goals. My book
would be a tribute to that great personality.
(The Assam Tribune,05.08.2007)
---------------------------------
5, 50, 500, 5000. Store N number of mails in your inbox. Click here._______________________________________________
assam mailing list
[email protected]
http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
