Mamoni books to be released in 5 languages

Guwahati, Oct. 3: A city-based publishing house will observe the 72nd birth anniversary of writer Mamoni Raisom Goswami by releasing her books in five languages.

Goswami was a popular Assamese writer who won the Sahitya Akademi and Mrityunjoy awards, among others, for her contribution to literature. She passed away on November 29, 2011.

“On her birth anniversary, we will publish her work in Bengali, Nepali, Bodo, Mising and Khasi languages,” said Sauman Bharatia, president of Byatikram Masdo, the publishing house. He said the publishing of books in different languages was an outcome of their efforts to take the author’s work to the masses.

The book release will be held at ITA cultural complex at Machkhowa here on November 14, Goswami’s birth anniversary, in association with South East Asia Ramayani Research Centre, a research institute set up by her in 2008 to carry out research on Ramayan. The books to be released are Adha Lekha Dostabej (an unfinished autobiography) in Khasi, Dontal Hatir Unye Khowa Hauda (The moth-eaten howdah of the tusker) in Mising, Sinnomostar Manuhto (The Man from Shinnamosta) in Nepali, Nilokonthi Brojo (The Blue-necked Braja) in Bengali and a short story collection in Bodo.

Bharatia said Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasrin has agreed to attend the programme provided the Assam government assures her security. “We will meet chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Saturday and urge him to assure security for Nasrin. She is in New Delhi and we are in constant touch with her. She has agreed to attend the programme if the government provides her security. We have met AGP and AIUDF leaders and they did not have any objection to her visit,” said Bharatia.

Besides Nasrin, others who will attend the programme are Antara Dev Sen, journalist and daughter of economist Amartya Sen, former director of National Book Trust Nirmal Kanti Bhattacharjee and writer Nabanita Dev Sen. “Goswami was one of the greatest Assamese writers. We want her books and thoughts to be spread over the world. We will publish more of her books in different languages in the future,” he said.

A seminar on Mamoni Raisom Goswami — Life and Literature with the welcome address by governor J.B. Patnaik and an exhibition of manuscripts of the writer’s books, awards and photographs will be held on the occasion.