THE BEGINNING

There is considerable contribution of Assamese women to the literature of the state since long. This is acknowledged by all. Women from Assam had taken active participation in exposure of its culture and literature since long. They created lyrics and other literary forms based on aspirations and feelings of common people. However, most of these lyrics could not be recorded due to lack of education. Only verbal communication prevailed. In the following period the educated few recorded the literature, though they could not do away with the convolution of self expression.

In fact both male and female writers belong to the same place. In this respect there is no stipulation to divide male and female aspirants. Even then it is found that women writers face lots of obstacles while expressing their talent. Men and women living in the same society face problems where women bear quite a few additional burdens. It is seen that for men, troubles on creation of literature comes after drafting the subject. However for women problems crop up even before beginning to write. It is observed that women litterateurs contribute less than male counterpart because of societal and family associated issues. Therefore women have not been able to proceed along side of male when it comes to creation of literature. However this does not mean that women are less creative than man as far as creation of literature is concerned.

In our society even today women are not confident about their status and talent. Due to negligence and de recognition we notice the talent of creativity has depleted among women writers. It is said that we are in the period of evolution of women. However even today, one finds unheard women writers waiting to be heard for a scope for the right milieu. If course and platform for expression of ideas and languages are offered to these unfounded women writers, there is little doubt that they would translate into starry litterateurs. Our aim is to acknowledge and welcome these unprivileged women in to the society.

Women have lots of problems and issues. Any composition which can show direction to these problems would be considered as the literary directive of women. Most of the problems connected with women have not been appropriately addressed. Women have also failed to showcase their problems. Therefore detail reasoning and path finding solutions will have to be taken out by themselves; literature is the explicit medium for this. It can be thought out that women can leverage these problems fairly by picking up the pen. Therefore we are contemplating to inspire time tested creation of literature for women.

With this objective in mind, on 2nd November, 1974, Tezpur Mahila Shilpanusthan organized a meeting presided by Late Saraswati Das, where Dr Sheela Barthakur put forward the resolution for creation of All Assam Women Writers Association with the following office bearers.

President - Dr Sheela Barthakur

Joint Secretary - Srimati Purabi Bormudoi(Tamuli)

Dr Swadhinata Mahanta

Members:- Suprabha Dutta, Swarnalata Hazarika, Punya Prabha Rajkhowa, Mamata Mess, Charu Devi, Sashiprabha Das, Padma Agarwala, Mrinali Chetia, Hiran Kalita, Kiran Baruah, Pramila Baruah, Padumi Das, Swaraswati Das, Sabitri Agarwala, Sura Borpujari, Phula Bhuyan, Uma Maheshree, Madhuri Kalita Choudhury and Reina Barthakur.

As a result of this attempt, on 4th and 5th January of 1975, the International Women's Year, All Assam Women Writers Association had its first conference at the premises of Tezpur Hem Baruah memorial hall, the genesis of Lekhika Samaroh. In appreciation of the conference, Padmashree Nalinibala Devi, Ananda Chandra Baruah (Bakul Bonor Kobi), Sahityacharjya Mitradev Mahanta, Sahitycharjya Atul Chandra Hazarika, Binanda Chandra Baruah, Dr Maheswar Neog, Syed Abdul Malik et.al. the coveted litterateurs of Assam greeted us. Indira Miri presided over the open session of the conference held on 5th January where Raseswari Khataniar was felicitated. Among others, Arati Saikia, Dr. Mamoni Roisom Goswami, Dr. Lakhyahira Das, Sushibrata Ray Choudhury, Alimunnisa Pyar, Prabina Saikia, Chitralata Phukan, Doli Talukdar, Dr. Lily Rajbanshi, Dr. Minati Hazarika, Punya Prabha Rajkhowa, Gayatri Konwar, Mrinali Chetia, Suprabha Dutta, Rupali Bora, Preeti Baruah, Krishnapriya Hazarika, Satyawati Goswami, Purabi Bormudoi(Tamuli), Madhuri Kalita Choudhury, Dr. Swadhinata Mahanta had participated. The first edition of -Lekhika-, edited by Purabi Bormudoi(Tamuli) was inaugurated by Dr. Lakhyahira Das. All participants acknowledged the unconventional proposition in promoting this institution and declared the first of its kind among women writers. Women writers coming from different places called a path finder effort by women of Tezpur and expressed that this organization would remain forever.

Our Services

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Top Office bearers

Dr. Sheela Barthakur

Founder President

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President

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General Secretary