GUWAHATI, March 15 - The 85th birthday of Eli Ahmed, who is one of the most outstanding women writers of the State, was celebrated at Pandit Tirthanath Sarma Bhawan in the presence of a large gathering on Saturday.
The function was inaugurated by Bhaskarjyoti Mahanta, DGP, Assam, who released a special issue of Oroni, highlighting the women personnel serving in Assam Police in different capacities.
Mahanta congratulated Ahmed on her birthday and complimented her for publishing and editing a women�s magazine for the last 50 years without any interruption, setting a record in the domain of Assamese journals and magazines.
Senior journalist DN Chakravartty released another special issue of Oroni published highlighting the women poets. Chakravartty said that Ahmed, who was fondly named Dikhou Kanya and Luit Kunwori by the people for her profound knowledge of Assamese rural life, is an encyclopaedia of Assamese folk culture in particular and Assamese culture at large.
He said that by editing, publishing and circulating a magazine single-handedly for long 50 years, she had set a unique example of hard work, perseverance, and commitment to social life.
Educationist Dr Sivanath Barman, while releasing a book on the life and achievements of Eli Ahmed by Nikumoni Hussain, said that to publish and edit a social journal for five decades was indeed a miraculous accomplishment.
The president of Assam Nepali Sahitya Sabha, Durga Kshatiora, also released Spandan, a compilation of poems by Ahmed.
Earlier, Niru Sarma Parajuli welcomed the guests and explained the objective of the meeting.
Eli Ahmed, while thanking the guests, stressed the need for greater unity among all sections of the people of Assam irrespective of caste, creed, language and religion. She said that public appreciation had given her the necessary impetus to continue writing even at her age.
