Srutimala Duara (Assamese: শ্ৰুতিমালা দুৱৰা; c. 1965 – 27 February 2023) was an Indian academician and bilingual writer from Assam. She wrote novels, short stories, and children's literature in English and Assamese, and poetry in English.[1] She was an associate professor and head of the English department of Handique Girls College, Guwahati. In 2021, she was awarded the Indian Women Achievers Award in Literature by the Asian Literary Society.

Srutimala Duara
Bornc. 1965
Died (aged 57)
OccupationAssociate professor, writer
LanguageEnglish and Assamese
NationalityIndian
GenreFiction, children's literature, poetry, nonfiction, memoir
Notable worksTraveling with Dreams
Notable awardsWoman of the Year 2016
Indian Women Achievers Award in Literature 2021
Website
srutimaladuara.in

Biography edit

Duara published novels, collections of short stories, children's literature, and essay collections in English and Assamese.[2] She also wrote six anthologies of poetry in English.[3]

She was an Associate Professor and head of the department of English of Handique Girls College, Guwahati.[4][5]

Duara was a founder member[6] and has been the secretary and treasurer of Northeast Writers' Forum, an organization with eight chapters in the Northeast of India.[7][8][9]

Duara also recited poetry, and her CD of recited Assamese poetry "Ekajoli Kobita" was released in 2015.[10] She has recited and acted in two poetry videos "Smriti" and "Sagar" published on YouTube.

Duara also wrote for The Times of India, The Hindu, and The Assam Tribune.

Duara died from ovarian cancer on 27 February 2023, at the age of 57.[3]

Awards and honours edit

Duara was awarded the "Naari Shakti Award" by Lions Club in April 2015. In 2016, she received the "Woman of the Year" award from the International Human Rights Council, Assam Chapter.[11] In 2021, she was awarded the Indian Women Achievers Award in Literature by the Asian Literary Society.[3]

Bibliography edit

Novels edit

  • Traveling with Dreams (Spectrum, 2001)[12][13]
  • Maya's Party (BR Publishing Corp, 2003)
  • Ashes in the Seas (BR Pub Corp, 2003)

Short story collections edit

  • The Sunset and Other Stories (Spectrum, 1998)
  • Waiting for the Last Breath (Spectrum, 1999)
  • The Jhoolan Evening (Spectrum, 2000)

Poetry collections edit

  • By the Brahmaputra and Other Poems (2018)[14]
  • Along my Route (2020)[15]

Children's books edit

  • Sadhukathar Desh (1995)
  • Sadhukathar Bagicha (1996)
  • Sadhukathar Tupula (1996)
  • Dhekura Kukurar Club (2019)[16]

Nonfiction edit

  • (editor) Assam: Myriad Perspectives (Spectrum, 2014)[17]
  • My Journey Through Cancer (2022)[18]

Personal life edit

Duara died at age 57 after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer.[18] She is survived by her husband and two children.[3]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Importance of being bilingual". Assam Tribune. 14 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2022 – via Gale.
  2. ^ "Books". Srutimala Duara. Archived from the original on 26 March 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d "Assam: Author Srutimala Duara dies at 57 after battle with cancer". The Print. PTI. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  4. ^ "'Female Author-ity'- A Collection of Critical Essays from a Female Perspective Launched in Guwahati". The Sentinel Assam. 13 February 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  5. ^ "Resume of Professors: Dr. Srutimala Duara" (PDF). www.hgcollege.edu.in. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  6. ^ "Members". Northeast Writers Forum. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  7. ^ "Writers' Forum organises 'Cultures of Peace'". Assam Tribune. 25 October 2015. ProQuest 1726770521.
  8. ^ "New committee of NE Writers' Forum formed". Assam Tribune. 14 February 2018. ProQuest 2001483440.
  9. ^ "Literally stimulating". The Assam Tribune. Archived from the original on 14 August 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  10. ^ "CD released". Assam Tribune. 4 April 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2022 – via Gale.
  11. ^ "Women's Day functions held in city". Assam Tribune. 10 March 2016. ProQuest 1771530192. Retrieved 15 October 2022 – via Gale.
  12. ^ Das, Debarati (2019). "Depiction of Insurgency in Duara's Travelling with Dreams". Writers Editors Critics. 9 (1) – via EBSCOhost.
  13. ^ Sonal Singh (2021). "Unrest of Desires: Facets of Reality in Srutimala Duara's Travelling with Dreams". Interface: A National Research Anthology on Indigenous Language, Literature & Culture. Book Rivers. pp. 284–292. ISBN 9789391000219. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  14. ^ "Collection of poems released". Assam Tribune. 25 November 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2022 – via Gale.
  15. ^ "Along my Route: Srutimala Duara's book of poems earns high praise from critics". The Sentinel Assam. Sentinel Digital Desk. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  16. ^ "Children's novel on street dogs released". Assam Tribune. 3 January 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2022 – via Gale.
  17. ^ "New arrivals: English books". The Hindu. 8 December 2014. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  18. ^ a b "Prominent Academician Srutimala Duara Passes Away". News Live. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2023.

External links edit