The Library of Congress >> Overseas Offices
Library of Congress New Delhi Office
The South Asian Literary Recordings Project

Indira Goswami, 1942-

Back

Image of Indira Goswami, 1942- (photo credit: Gaurav Sharma)

Select page numbers to listen or LCCN to display the bibliographic record.

Readings:

  1. Mamani Rayachama Gosvamira upanyasa samagra.
    Guwahati, Assam : Student's Stores, 1998.
    (LCCN: 99934240)
  2. Mamani Rayachama Gosvamira svanirbacita galpa.
    New Delhi : National Book Trust, 1998.
    (LCCN: 00441798)
  3. Ramayana from Ganga to Brahmaputra.
    Delhi: B. R. Publ. Corp, 1996.
    (LCCN: 00440684)
    • "The Essence of the two Ramayanas"
      MP3 excerpt: pp. 1-6

Indira Goswami, born in 1942 in Assam, is one of the pre-eminent contemporary Assamese writers. Goswami is known for her fresh and original style with novel themes. Her short stories and novels set in different locales of India give her readers a taste of life beyond the boundaries of Assam. When taking on the tough social issues of urban life, the harsh lives of laborers, and the plight of widows in Vrindavan and Assam, Goswami displays great empathy and compassion. She has an ear for the vernacular and is able to reproduce the coarse conversations of her protagonists. Her way of expressing anger or indignation at forced rituals and oppressive social customs is very subtle and guarded. Throughout all her writings she exudes confidence, courage and determination.

Considered an expert on the Ramayana literature, Goswami's voluminous works on the Assamese and Hindi Ramayanas have won her many laurels including the International Tulsi Award, 1999, given by Florida International University, Miami. She won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1983 for her novel Mamare Dhara Tarwal. Her other widely read novels are Dontal Hatir Une Khowda Howda, Nilakanthi Braja, and Tej aru Dhulire Dhusarita Prshtha. Her candid autobiography, Adhalekha Dastaveja, published in 1988 and its English translation, have won critical acclaim in India. She has received many other awards including the Assam Sahitya Sabha Award, 1988; Bharat Nirman Award, 1989; Sauhardya Award, 1992; Katha Award, 1993; Kamal Kumari Foundation Award, 1996. In July 2001, Goswami was awarded the Jnanpith, India's highest literary award.

Indira Goswami's works have been translated into many Indian languages and English. The Library of Congress has thirteen titles including translations.

Back
The Library of Congress >> Overseas Offices >> New Delhi
January 11, 2016
Contact Us
Legal | External Link Disclaimer