Life and literary career
Rita Chowdhury was born on August 20, 1960 at Tirap in Arunachal Pradesh. She was born to Biraja Nanda Chowdhury. During the Assam Agitation Chowdhury was one of the prominent members of Jatiyatabadi Juba Chatra Parishad. She was imprisoned twice in Guwahati and thrice in Dibrugarh.
Chowdhury did her schooling in Upper Haflong LP School. She completed her Higher secondary fronm Margherita Public Higher Secondary School. She is a double MA in Political science and Assamese. She is a PHD and an LLB.
Rita Chowdhury has written eight novels and twenty short stories. Dr Chowdhury’s first novel was “Abirata Jatra”. It was written in 1981. It won the first prize in a competition held by Asom Sahitya Sabha. The novel was written when she went underground during the Assam agitation.
The notable books written by the celebrated writer are “Makam”, “Thirthabhumi”, “Maha Jibanar Adharshila”, “Nayana Tarali Sujata”, “Popiya Torar Xadhu”, “Ragmalkosh”, “Jala Padma”, “Hriday Nirupai”, “Deo langkhui”. She had been the editor of “Adharxia”. Dr Chowdhury has written 50 poems. The poems written by her are “Xudoor Nakshatra”, “Banariya Batahar Xuhuri”, “Alop Pooharar Alop Andharar”, “Boga Matir Tulaxi”.
Awards and Honour
- Assam Sahitya Sabha Award (First Prize awarded in the Manuscript Competition of Novel) in 1981 for the Novel, Abirata Yatra.
- Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha Award by Assam Sahitya Sabha, new Delhi in 2006 for the novel Deo Langkhui.
- Sahitya Akademi Award, 2008, for the novel Deo Langkhui
- Lekhika Samoroh Xahitya Bata in 2011 by Sadou Axom lekhika Samoroh Samittee.
- G.A. Kulkarni Award for Translation of the novel, Makam in Marathi Language in 2013 by Goa Hindu association, Mumbai.
- Certificate of merit Award in 2011 by IDPA, Mumbai for the Documentary, ‘The Divided Soul’.
- Award for Excellence in Best Editing for ‘The Divided Soul’ (Docu) produced by Chowdhury in Mumbai International Film festival in 2011.
Posts held
- Visitor's (President of India) nominee to the Court, Rajiv Gandhi University, Arunachal.
- Visitor's (President of India) nominee to the Court, Axom University, Silchar, Assam.
- Member, State Commission for Women, Assam.
- Member, Asomiya Advisory Panel, National Book Trust.
- Chief trustee, 'Adharxila'(Honorary)
