GUWAHATI, July 15 - Sahitya Akademi award winner Purabi Bormudoi passed away at Guwahati Medical College & Hospital here today. She was 69 and ailing for quite some time after having suffered a near-fatal cerebral stroke more than ten years back.
Bormudoi was conferred the Sahitya Akademi award in 2007 for her novel Santanukulanandan that depicts the growth of civilizations in Assam along the Brahmaputra river.
She had pledged her eyes for needy persons and body for cadaver studies.
Author of a number of novels based on women�s issues and herself being a woman activist, Bormudoi received a number of awards, including the Assam Valley Literary Award (2011). Bormudoi, who had begun her literary journey through poetry, had left the teaching profession to devote time to her first love � writing.
Born on May 8, 1950 at Deuri Gaon of Tezpur, Bormudoi had authored a number of books and short stories. Gajaraj, Prem Aru Bonditva, Rupuwali Noir Sonowali Ghat and Baghsal, Baghjaal Aru Manuh are among her popular and critically acclaimed books. Gajaraj, Prem Aru Bonditva was her first novel that was published in 1999.
She had also made a significant contribution in enriching Assamese short story. Her short stories, some of which were translated into various languages, were published in a number of newspapers and journals.
Bormudoi had done her initial studies at Tezpur Government HS Girls School, before graduating from Darrang College and attaining postgraduation in history from Gauhati University.
She had tied the nuptial knot with writer and critic Dr Ananda Bormudoi, a former head of department of English of Dibrugarh University, in 1976.
Besides her husband, she also leaves behind her son Arnab.
Expressing profound grief at Bormudoi�s death, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said her demise is a huge loss to Assamese society and literature.
Recalling her extraordinary contribution to Assamese language and literature, the Asam Sahitya Sabha and Arunachal Pradesh Literary Society have also condoled her death.
Expressing grief at Bormudoi�s demise, Ellora Vigyan Mancha said her writings depicted a powerful picture of Assamese society.
