HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, July 27: Sahitya Akademi Award-winning litterateur Atulananda Goswami, known for his novels and short stories, died at a hospital in Guwahati on Wednesday, family sources said.
He was 87.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, among others, condoled the litterateur’s death.
Goswami was in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) for about 10 days, where he breathed his last on Wednesday morning.
The deceased author’s daughter said, “We had taken him to GMCH as he was running a fever. He was immediately admitted to the ICU. He was suffering from dementia for several years. He later developed sepsis.”
His last rites were performed by his son at the Navagraha crematorium here.
Goswami’s wife had predeceased him and he leaves behind his children, grandchildren and a host of relatives.
Widely known for his novel ‘Namghoria’ written in the early 1990s, Goswami received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2006 for his short story collection ‘Seneh Jarir Ganthi’.
He was also bestowed with the Ambikagiri Roy Choudhury Sahitya Award, the Kumar Kishor Memorial Award, the Katha Award and the Sneha Bharati Sahitya Samman, among other honours.
Goswami also translated many English, Bengali and Odia texts into Assamese and Assamese texts to English.
A native of Jorhat district, he had retired as a state government officer and settled in Guwahati.
Condoling the writer’s death, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “Saddened by the passing away of noted writer Shri Atulananda Goswami Ji. His works received great acclaim and are admired for their diversity and sensitivity. He made great efforts to popularise Assamese literature in English. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti.”
Chief minister Sarma, in his condolence message on the micro-blogging site, said: “The news of the passing away of prominent litterateur Atulananda Goswami has deeply saddened me.”
“We will forever cherish his contribution to the literary as well as social life of Assam,” he added, offering his condolences to the bereaved family and praying for eternal peace of the departed soul.
Assam Governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi too mourned the death of the eminent author.
In a condolence message here on Wednesday, Prof Mukhi said, “I am really saddened by the demise of the Sahitya Akademi Award-winning litterateur Atulananda Goswami. An eminent litterateur, novelist and short story writer, his creations reflected the varied and rich aspects of Assam’s social and cultural life”.
Prof Mukhi also said that his demise is a loss to the state who had immensely contributed to the enrichment of Assamese literature. His death is an irreparable loss and will create a void. Moreover, his creations will be a source of inspiration to the posterity.
“My deep condolences to the bereaved family members and pray to God to be with them at this trying time. I also pray to the Almighty for eternal peace of the departed soul,” the Governor added.
The apex literary body of the state Asam Sahitya Sabha also mourned the sad demise of Goswami.
Dr Kuladhar Saikia, president and Jadab Chandra Sarma, principal secretary, Asam Sahitya Sabha, in a condolence message said that physical absence of the renowned writer, author of many distinguished works including ‘Namghoria’ and recipient of Sahitya Akademi Award has caused an irreparable loss to the Assamese language, literature and society.
Along with different organisations here, Sonitpur Zila Sahitya Sabha, Tezpur Sahitya Sabha, Da-Parbatia Sahitya Sabha, Padmanath Gohain Barua Sahitya Sabha,Uttar Paschim Tezpur Sahitya Sabha, Baan Theatre, Tezpur, All Assam Journalists Union, AAJU Sonitpur district committee, Sonitpur Journalists’ Union, Sonitpur Press Club, Sadou Asam Lekhika Samaroh Samiti, Asomiya Club, Tezpur, Tarun Asom Sangha and AASU Tezpur regional committee deeply mourned the demise of the prominent litterateur of the state. (With inputs from PTI)
