Your Pen should be free and liberated: Dr. Rita Chowdhury

“When it comes to writing, your pen should be free and liberated”, Sahitya Akademi Awardee noted Assamese writer and the Director, National Book Trust, Dr. Rita Chowdhury said this at anaugust gathering yesterday (May 06, 2018) at Tezpur University’s Kalaguru BishnuPrasad Rabha Auditorium. A writer needs to be impartial, balanced and just not only to the characters theycreate but also to the society at large, she added.

Dr. Chowdhury and Ms Mitra Phukan, noted author, columnist and translator were attending

“Arnaswat”, an Arts & Literary Festival organised by the Tezpur University Students’ Council as a part of the year long Silver Jubilee Celebrations of Tezpur University.

Narrating her journey as a writer and activist, Dr. Chowdhury, author of the seminal books such

as “Tirthabhumi”, “Jala Padma”, “Deo Langkhui”, “Makam”, and “Chinatown Days”, said that

although she started her journey as a poet, she found comfort in writing novels. “When I wrote

my first novel I was an absconding activist during the Assam Movement. In fact, as a part of

Asom Sahitya Sabha’s competition for unpublished fiction manuscripts, when I first wrote a

novel (Abirata Jatra, meaning-Incessant Journey) and won the first prize, I was in Dibrugarh jail, she told the audience.

“These days’ social media is also playing a crucial role in developing writing skill. I keep

observing many young writers who share their writing in social media. Some of them write very

well. One may not find a publisher immediately; but nobody can stop you writing in social

media. That’s the beauty of these platforms” she said.

Referring to Assam movement the celebrated author of the famous novel “Ei Samay Sei Samay” said that Assam movement plays a special role in her life and whenever she needed inspiration, she looked back at Assam movement from where she found purity, innocence and the motivation for doing something better for the society.

Speaking on the occasion, noted writer Mitra Phukan recalled the challenges of writing in

English during her staring days and opined that a good writer does not repeat the same thought or the characters in their writing.

“Life is a journey and everything evolves with time and that's why may be the theme remainssame but plot changes in our writings” she said.

Ms Mitra Phukan, who is the author of “The Collector’s Wife” and “A Monsoon of Music” also

stressed that a writer needs to be excited about their story and should be open to disagreement.

“You don’t want a situation, where everyone is agreeing with you whatever you are writing.

There has to be some disagreement, some provocation, she said”. She further added that a good writer travels, interact and observes things. Cautioning the young crowd, Ms Phukan said that full time writing is yet to be a full-fledged profession. A prolific translator, Ms. Phukan, who has translated Jyanpeeth Awardee Birendra Kumar Bhattacharyya’s book, “Kobor Aru Phool,”

which she has named “Blossoms in the Graveyard” told the audience that quite often people mix editing and correction, which are two completely separate works.

Earlier the inaugural session of the lit fest was graced by Dr. Birubala Rabha, a distinguished

personality and social activist as Chief Guest. It was followed by “Voice of Silence”, performed

by renowned Mime artist Mr. Moinul Haque and his Mime Academy, Guwahati on Friday. A

myriad of literary and art events were organised as part of the three-day literary festival aiming

to provide a platform to the students to bring out their creativity and hone their skills.

Events/Competitions such as Dowat/story/poetry writing, extempore speech, quiz, cartooning,

painting, film screening were organised. A drama “Ekhoni Nila Sador” was performed as

curtains came down on the glittering fest yesterday .