[Assam] Nirupama Borgohain : walking that extra mile with grace and clarity (The Assam Tribune, 05.08.2007)

[Buljit Buragohain]

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)



       
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