GUWAHATI, March 15 - Several women�s organisations of the city along with Guwahati Senior Citizens� Association (GSCA) felicitated writer Eli Ahmed on her 84th birthday yesterday.
Inaugurating the meeting and releasing the magazine Oroni edited by Ahmed for the last 49 years, senior journalist DN Chakravartty said Ahmed symbolises the best of Assamese cultural life representing in her outlook and activities the basic element and grandeur of Assamese culture.
He said Oroni is the only Assamese magazine which has been able to complete 49 years without any interruption.
Mridula Chahariya, former chairperson of the State Commission for Women, while congratulating Ahmed, said that younger generations of Assamese women could draw inspiration from Ahmed in retaining the purest form of Assamese language, culture and social life.
Dr Suchitra Kakati described Ahmed as a true model of modern Assamese women who are equally conscious of their rich tradition and culture.
Film director Dara Ahmed who is Eli Ahmed�s brother, recalled their childhood memories and described how Eli Ahmed played the role of their departed mother and took good care of them.
Barnali Sarma, Director of Cultural Affairs, dwelt at length on the manifold qualities of Ahmed and referred to her tireless efforts for the cause of socio-cultural development of the Assamese people. She also spoke about her association with Ahmed and acknowledged the great debt of gratitude she owed to Ahmed for the last several years.
Ahmed in her speech said she was brought up on the bank of the Dikhow, but later submerged her identity in the Brahmaputra for which she was conferred the title Luit Kuwori. She appealed to the younger sections of Assamese women not to copy mindlessly the western or outside culture, �but that they should be proud of Assamese culture and way of life which could claim to be among the finest in the world.�
