Nirupama Tamuli who later on came to be known as
Nirupama Borgohain by virtue of marriage, started her literary
career in forties and she is now an established writer in
Assamese literature. The psychology of women, their struggle
for identity and equality are the subjects she usually deal in
her writings. She has written with sincerity and earnesbiess
for the reduction of disparity faced by women in society so
that they can live in society with dignity and self respect.
For this reason women characters occupy a significant place in
her writings. Nirupama Tamuli was born at Jur pukhuri,
Guwahati on March l7,1932. Her father is late Jadav Chandra
Tamuli and her mother was Kashishari Tamuli. She is called
Bakul at her home. Her paternal home was at Simalia Goan which
is seven miles away from Nalbari and the house of her mother
was Charnarkuchi. Niruparna has a deep fascination for her
village. She visits her village whenever she gets opportunity
and she is impressed by the beauty of the river Pagaladiya.
The picture of the villages of Nalbari, the struggle faced by
the people she has met, their characteristics, and depiction
of the beauty of the river Pagaladiya find expression in her
fictions.
Among the seven children of her parents Nirupama was the
fourth and naturally she did not get much love and care in the
family. Being the mother of so many children Nirupama's mother
could give special care to none. As a result the children of
the family could enjoy sufficient freedom and Nirupama was not
exceptional to this. She was not troubled by unnecessary
restrictions at home. The parents of Niruparna Borgohain was
liberal minded and they kept faith on their children. They
knew that they would give importance on their faith.
Nirupama could develop a strong and free mind as she was not
restrained at home by ordinary rules. She could take the
decision of her life even from her childhood. Her father was a
man having an ideology. Truth fullness, honesty, and benevolence
was his idealism. He transferred these qualities to his
children. Bakul was very much influenced by her father's
ideology and was determined to proceed in her life following
these ideals. The impartial treatment of her mother to all has
attracted her since her childhood. These educations received in
her childhood has been considered as valuable education by
her. In her childhood Nirupama was very emotional. Besides,
her mind was occupied with pride and arrogance. She herself
confesses, 'I am very stubborn woman. It can he said that her
emotional mind helps her to become a creative writer.
From her childhood Nirupama has been interested in books other
than text hooks. She was good in study. She has not been
afraid of lodging protest against injustice. The school
authority was confused of this brilliant yet disobedient
girl. When she was reading in Panbazar school, she edited a
handwritten magazine titled 'Shalita'.She also published
another hand-written magazine from Tarini Charan school while
she was a student of class x. It should be mentioned that the
editor of the magazine was Borgohain herself and most of the
contributions were made by herself.
Nirupama stood first in matriculation examination
obtaining letter marks in history and sanskrit. Initially, she
started her higher education in Dihrugarh, but later on she
went to Cotton College to study B.Sc. At that time she was a
border in Chatribari Mission Hostel. She has written her novel
Cactusar Phul taking this hostel as background.
After passing the B.A from Cotton College in 1952,Nirupama
went to Calcutta university to do M.A in English. She was
placed in third class in M.A examination. She appeared in
examination for the second time, but the result was not
according to her expectation.
Niruparna started her professional career as a
teacher. After this she joined in Nalbari college as lecturer
in English. In 1958 she was married to Homen Borgohain the
renown litterateur of Assam. At that time Borgohain was S.D.C
of Nalbari. When her husband was transferred to Majuli Mrs. Ms
Borgohain had to leave the job in Nalbari College and joined
in a school in Majuli. She had to leave Majuli also when
Borgohain was transferred to Chaigoan. She published her first
anthology of short story entitled �Anek Akash�. After this the
Borgohain family had to live in Goalpara where Nirupama wrote
her first novel �Sei Nadi Nirahadhi�.She was happy to know
that the readers received this novel with great enthusiasm.
Nirupama Borgohain worked for a few days in
Goalpara College. Again her husband was transferred to
Lakhimpur and she left Goalpara. She was appointed to
Lakhimpur College. During this period she appeared M.A in
Assamese. In 1965 Nirupama worked in Jorhat College for a few
days. In 1968 she changed her field of work and started her
career as a journalist. She joined as Sub-Editor in �Saptahik
Nilachal�.During this time she composed a number of stories
and novels. Samanya Asamanya,Hriday Eta Nirjan Deep
Cactusar phul, Iparar Ghar Siparar Ghar, Din Pratidin, Chaya
am Chahi,Tini
Kenya
are the novels written during this period.
In the mean time Nirupama has been blessed by two sons. The
eldest son is Anindya,and the youngest one is Pradipta.She
also started a coaching centre as the salary received from
Nilachal was insufficient to run her family. Due to her lack
of experience she has to close the coaching school.Nirupama
had her separation from her husband in 1977. She again started
to work in the Nilachal.
Though she was not happy in her married life, she could not
even think of separation from her husband, but to her
astonishment this happened. She had to bear the burden of the
family life alone from 1977 and that became very painful for
her. She herself confessed that due to her arrogance and
adamant attitude she had to bear the pain of running her
family alone.
The period that followed was the period of Assam Movement. She
had to leave her job in the Nilachal as she was honest and
truthful in casting news. She has recounted her experience as
reporter in the following words: The first and foremost
quality of a reporter is impartiality, but this is not always
so.� She further said�� the artists , litterateur and scholars
may speak ,write and publish many things, but in their life
they themselves are not clean�. She realised that the Assamese
people always have a tendency to imitate others instead of
being guided by their own wisdom. At that time some thoughtful
and progressive people started an organization. The name of
the organization was Gana Sanskritti Vikash Samity. Ms
Borgohain was also a member of that organization. She worked
as an editor of the weekly �Janajivan�. After this she worked
as the chief editor of �Saptahik Sachipat�
Nirupama Borgohain lodged her voice of protest
against violent aspects of the movement. Somehow this was made
public. Probably for this reason she was invited to two
conferences which took initiation for national integrity. One
of the conferences was hold in Agartala and other was hold in
Calcutta. Dishari, a cultural organization of Silchar
organised a festival of integration to strengthen the
foundation of solidarity between the Bengali and Assamese
people. Nirupama was invited to such meet also. She felt the
need of such festival and he lived that honest and man with
good sensibility should take initiative for peace and
integrity.
Nirupama Borgohain lived with her eldest son
Anindya Borgohain in Calcutta from 1989 to 1993. While she was
in Calcutta she wrote her novel �Abhiyatri�. Coming back to
Assam she took the charge of bi-weekly paper �Chitanggada�.
But she could not continue that service too. She had to meet
her expenditure from writing and the money she got from
Sahityik Pension. She wrote in her book Biswas and
Sangsaya.��I earned a little, but still I am proud of the fact
that I am the only woman who earns livelihood through
learning.�
Now she lives in the paternal home at Jorepukhuri with
Pradipta Borgohain, lecturer of Guwahati University.
Literary work
This book-loving writer used to read various types of books
even from her childhood. She is a voracious reader of
English, Assamese and Bengali books and she is interested in
books other than text books. She edited two hand written
magazines while she was a school student and contributions to
this magazine was made by her in different names. While she
was a student of class viii She became a member of Tarun
Lekhak Sangha,an organization formed at that time. The
president of that organization was Dr. Prafulla Dutta Goswami.
She composed a short story entitled The Diary of a Nobody�
being influenced by a book of same title. She read the short
story in literary sitting of the organization and she was
inspired by the appreciation done by Dr. Prafulla Dutta
Goswami for the story. At that time she wrote another story
entitled �Shanta Chualijani Tai�. This story was her first
printed story. This story was published in the literary
anthology published by Tarun Lekhak Sangha. The story is about
the psychological state of the heroine who is introspective by
nature. After reading the story Dr. Goswami appreciated her
very much and this inculcated confidence in her. Nirupama
Borgohain has devoted her life sincerely to literary work and
she has written many articles, travelogue and several novels.
Here is a list of some of her creative works.
1. Anek Aakash
(anthology of short stories)
2. Shunyatar Kabya ,,
3. Jalachabi
,,
4. Ipar Sipar
,,
5. Jananir Sandhanat Ejan Deka Manuh ,,
6. Khiriki Kasar Gach ,,
7. Nirbachita Galpa Sankalan ,,
8. Premar Babe Swapnar
Babe ,,
9 Sei Nadi Nirabadhi (Novel)
10. Dinar pichat
Din ,,
11. Ejan Burah Manuh ,,
12. Antah sruta
,,
13. Chaya aru Chabi ,,
14. Hridai Eta Nirjan
Deep ,,
15. Kektachar phul
,,
16. Nami Ahe Sandhiya
,,
17. Tini Kanya
(collection of novelette)
18. Sapunar Pichat
,,
19. Iparar Ghar Siparar Ghar (Novel)
20. Din pratidin
,,
21. Samanya Asamaynyd
,,
22. Chinakee Achinakee
,,
23. Anva Jivan
,,
24. Gosani Aai Gosani Aai
,,
25. Champawati
,,
26. Ekhan Sradhat Anandasru ,,
27. Abhyatri
,,
28. Bhabisyatar Ranga Surya ,,
29. Elbamat Herua Chabi
,,
30. Nijar Para Nilagat ,,
31. Ekey Jun Ekey Beli ,,
32. Puwar Puravi Sandhyar Vihhas (novel written in
collaboration with
Hornen Borgohain)
33. Dhaur Garjan ( translated novel)
34. Akanmani Konwar (translated children novel)
35. Iparar Dhau Siparar Dhau (children novel)
36. Nana Rangi (anthology of essays)
37. Jivanar Bate Hate ,,
38. Bibhinna Lekhak Bibhinna Jivan ,,
39. Jivanar Rup Aparup
,,
40. Asom (anthology oftranslated articles)
41. Biswas aru Sansayar Majedi (autobiography)
42. Baba Farid (translated biography)
43. Bhagini Nibedita
,,
44. Bhramanar Kata Rup Rang (travelogue).
Anek Aakash
This collection of short story written centering round the
life of domestic worker is the first published book of the
writer. She reflects the life of the exploited class through
her stories.
Sei Nadi Nirabadhi:
Written on the background of Simalia gaon, her paternal place
near the river Pagaladiya of Nalbari, this novel is the first
novel of the writer. She depicts the familiar life of her
village people. �A reader being impressed by this book wrote,�
this book should be translated into all the languages of
India.� This really was a great compliment to the writer.
The character of Lakhmi is an impressive character of the
novel Sey Nadi Nirabadhi. She is a smart, frank and sunny
village girl. She has confidence on herself and can establish
her opinion through logical reasoning. But the character of
the smart open minded girl was never led to a happy ending. In
the second chapter adult Lakhmi turns to be an ordinary widow.
Her life came to an end just like an ordinary woman. Though
her character was full of potentialities, yet these were not
fully developed. The hero of the novel Dipu also has a tragic
ending.
Dinar Pichat Din:
This is the writer�s third published novel which shows that
the happiness and sorrow of a married woman depends on the
love and understanding of the husband. The status, fame and
wealth of husband cannot make the life of wife resourceful Anu
has the bitter experience of married life devoid of love and
so she protested against the marriage of her sister with an
unknown boy. The writer roams in the psychological sphere of
the characters and it is from this stand point that the novel
is unusual. The happiness and sorrow of the married life is
dependent on love, a theme presented in her novel Samanya
Asamanya
Ejan Burha Manuh: The novel presents two
characters having opposite nature. The aged Bijoy Bharali is
hurt at behaviour of his daughter in law which reminds him of
his dead wife. Dr. Govinda Prasad Sarma comments,�The change
of social value with the coming of the new generation finds
touching expression in the novel�.The writer tries to analyse
the female characters from the stand point of a male
character. The importance of women lies on her capacity to
serve God. In spite of having all virtues, Kamala is shadowed
by the character of Ila. �The writer is successful in peeping
the inner recess of women and elaborately highlights the
diverse nature of women. Besides, the fact that the happiness
and sorrow of the main members of the family is dependent upon
women is also projected in the novel�. (Mamoni Gogoi Borgohain)
KektaChar Phul
is a popular novel of the writer. The two characters of the
novel Manasi and Lalitbala are able to touch the heart of the
readers. Lalitbala may not look beautiful, but she is very
much conscious of inner beauty. Lalitbala likes reading book
and she gives importance on the beautiful aspect of life. She
believes in Marxism, becomes member communist party.The
heroine Manasi is brilliant, bright, intelligent and
responsible. She considers Rajib�s proposal to marry her
instead of marrying her sister as humiliation to her sister.
She suppresses her weakness to Rajib.
Nami Ahe Sandhiya
is a story of betrayal of love.
Tiny Kanya
is a combination of three novels. The Novel Mar Prati Ma ram
depicts the opposite character of traditional mother and
progressive brave daughter. The Rupali has the power minute
observation. She criticises the opportunists in the field of
politics. She has no faith in God, but believes in the laws of
nature.The writer through the character of Rupali depicts a
character who has a clear political ideology. She is depicted
as a character who is ready to fight social injustice.
Another novelette of this anthology is Aalahi Pakhir Gaii is
a psychological novel. The third novel of the anthology
Pitaputry is a story of fear-stricken mother and a
revolutionary daughter.
Iparar Ghar Siparar Ghar
is a socialistic novel of the novelist. She calls it her first
feminist novel. The background of this novel is the place of
her father situated near the river Pagaladiya. She creates the
character of this novel from real life exercising her full
energy. She also depicts the character of her greedy uncle in
this novel. She depicts the life of a familiar woman with the
colour of imagination through the character of Pateswari.
The father of the writer planned to build a house
in the ancestral village by buying a plot of land by the side
of Gangapukhuri situated in the other bank of the river
Pagaladiya. The novelist also dreamt of a two-storied building
from her childhood. This novel is the presentation of her
fancy and pain of unfulfiliment of her dream centred round
her dream house. She expresses her mental condition of that
time through the character of Anjali. In the words of Govinda
Prasad Sarma,� In spite of having many demerits, this novel
can be considered as a valuable literary work. (Prakash,1979).
In a patriarchal society girls have to face
criticism, and society is very hard in judging a girl�s
character. In case of man such fault is considered negligible.
The writer repeatedly expresses this in her writing. The
novelist makes the character Sadari in the novel Charnpawati
to express her view regarding the blame society imposes upon
women.� In our society women have to bear the burden of all
kinds of blarne(kalanka) .Man can escape easily. The struggle
in her life makes the character of Champawati a developed
character. The novelist is successful in establishing the self
respect in the mind of distressed woman. She is successful in
sensitizing women regarding their own problems.
Devoting a long period of life to literary work,She received award first time in her life for her novel
Anyajivan. The novel is about the exploitation done to women
by man. Putali is very much affected by the death of her
mother due to the exploitation done by her father. Putali read
books seeking solution for such atrocities. She becomes a
feminist being influenced by Marxist Naren. Again Majani
suffered as she could not give birth of male child. Even
educated father gives importance on marriage of the daughter
rather than their education. No importance is given to the
opinion of the girl in case of marriage. Proper recognition is
not given to women�s work. Women have to be in empty stomach
.But no one notices even when women remain in empty stomach.
The novel is about the injustice done to women. Nirupama
receives an award �Najhanaur Arunamalamba from an organization
named Swaswati and she also received Basanti Bardaloi Award�
from Asom Sahitya Sabha in 1988.
Bhabisyatar Rangsurya is an another novel
of Nirupama Borgohain based on the life of a small boy.Other
novels like Din pratidin Chinaki Achinaki, Gosani Ai
express depression of new writers , need of Marxist
revolution, evil effect of Assam movement etc. Jivanar Rup
Aparup Elbamat Herua Chahi are the novels about
terror-ridden environment of Assam.
Puwar Puravi Sandhyar Bibhas has been
written in collaboration with Homen Borgohain. it is a
readable novel. Every writer has his own distinguished
features and so readers can easily identify the writers of the
portion written by them.
Borgohain has translated several books. Among them a children
novel, two biographies and an anthology of articles are worthy
to mention.
The most remarkable novel of the novelist is Aviyatri.
Written in two episodes the novelist unveils a life of a woman
who is a writer, social reformer, and a politician. That woman
was Chandraprava Saikiani who like a spark of revolution
protested against the injustice of society. She sacrificed her
life for the welfare of women. The novelist feels that it needs
more publicity for a woman like that. She is happy to write
such a novel. Chandraprava raised the voice of protest against
the system of staying behind a curtain in the conference of
Asom Sahitya Sabha.She had to take the burden of unmarried
mother and revolted to receive recognition of motherhood.
Nirupanta was honoured with �Sahitya Akademi Award� for this
novel. It is the recognition of her hard labour needed to
write such a novel.
Nirupama Borgohain published an anthology of article titled
Nana Rangi The articles and travelogue published in the book
have been published in various news papers and magazines. The
articles have still relevance in our society. These articles
can give new information to the readers.
Biswas aru Sangsayar Majedy is an
autobiographical book of the writer.She records not only the
incidents from her life, but also the life, literature of
other people. She feels that her life is full of events.It
reflects some incidents of her time and from that standpoint
it can be said as a valuable document of society.She writes
this memoir basing on the letters and her memory. Generally a
writer of an autobiography is blamed for hiding real fact of
his life. But the autobiography of Nirupamas is free from such
blame.
The writer expresses some truths realised by her.
She writes ,� The learning is of no value if it cannot make a
real man.� Fliren Gohain says about the writer who can face
the adverse situation boldly: �The writer who can fight
depression and dejection with firmness and self respect has a
rare sort of realization� � � � -� Doing offence is not a
serious matter, it is a general characteristics of human
being. But betrayal and deceit is the ultimate degradation of
human being. There is no vulgarity like this in the world.�
Borgohain has published anthologies of short
stories like Jalachabi, Jananeer Sandhanat Ejan Deka Manuh,
Khiriki kashar Gas, Nirhachita Galpa Sankalan ect during
last five decades, and through these she sympathetically
presents some elementary problems of women. Her stories
created in the later part of her life are more mature than
those of early stage of her life. The theme of her early
stories centers round the lower status of women in society and
the problem of marriage. The women presented in the stories of
the late part of her life are women taking responsibility of
family and society. According to Homen Borgohain the stories
created in her later part of her life embraces a wide field of
life.
Nirupama Borgohain believes that women have to go
forward in equal pace with men in order to make themselves
free from atrocities and exploitation. Besides she needs to be
educated and self dependent. In her novels and short stories
she presents the character of narrow-minded and selfish middle
class women along with the rational, sympathetic liberal
minded educated women. Her women characters usually lodge
protest against the established system.They like to express
their own opinion and outlook.In her writings their is the
reflection of her own character in many aspects. Till date her
three stories have been picturised. Her story Madhybartiny has
been telecasted from Guwahati Doordarshan by Santana Bardoloi.
�Ejan Burha Manuh� has been telecasted serially in T.V.
The writer was inspired to write on the issues and problems of
women by reading various writings of other writers. She wants
to be called her a humanist rather than a feminist. According
to her feminism is a part of humanism. Love for mankind is
similar to love for woman.
At present the world is swept by the wave of feminism. But she
does not support extremism in the name of feminism. Feminism
means right to speak, to work and to think equally with men.
Both men and women can fight equally against the evil elements
of society. Like Verginia wolf, the writer also thinks that
only economic independence can emancipate women. Emancipation
of women means to recognize women as human being. But women
should not deviate from the duty entrusted upon them. Due to
their upbringing in patriarchal society, men fail to treat
women with sympathy.
The women writers of Assam as a whole are to some
extent neglected according to Borgohain. She expressed her
resentment for not honouring women as the president/secretary
of Asom Sahitya Sabha. As a journalist she is enriched with
both good and bad experience. The diverse experience in the
life of a journalist gives excitement and joy in the work. But
papers in stead of presenting real fact, gives importance on
exaggeration.
She said that the environment for literary work is not
encouraging in Assam. She published twenty thousand copy of a
book in 1963 and the number remained same even in 1987.Of
course she suspects that it may be due to her poor quality of
writing.
The use of Bengali words in her writing is
noticeable. It is due to her excessive reading of books
written in Bengali language. Besides, the workplace of her
father was Dhuburi for which she had the opportunity to learn
Bengali language.
The life of Borgohain is full of contradiction.
She realises this now and then. Her critics say that she is
looming in the midst of faith and doubt. She does not consider
herself successful as writer. She considers her inability to
express her thoughts properly due to the lack of strength as
writer.
Nirupama Bargohain tries to investigate the human values,
humanity which are going to disappear from society. Hemanta
Barman,a journalist writes, �She exhibits a mind searching for
human values in her stories, novels and journalistic writings.
She has the capacity to peep into the the core of the heart of
women and she is equally expert in understanding man and
patriarchal society.�
Humanistic writer like her unveils the nature of
racial arrogance and at the same time she defied boldly the
public disapproval considering her anti movement. She
possesses a rare personality. Munin Bayan in Ajir Batory calls
her an �avowed nonconformist.�
Kalita writes, �I have a doubt that critical attitude to Axom
Movement, opposition of existing order of things, and her
faith in communism have deprived her of recognition that she
deserves.
But it is time to give due recognition to the meritorious.
This is clearly proved when she had been honoured by Sahitya
Akademy Award.
She is blessed by many things in her life, but at
the same time she experiences the pain of unfulfillment in her
life. The love and loyalty of friends, the affection, respect
of children, their success, her love to this world makes her
life sweet. With this sweetness of life, breathing the smell
of jasmine in hundreds of autumn may she enrich Assamese
literature with more creative work. it is our earnest
expectation from her.
