Thirty-four years ago when she was struggling to bring together two dozen women writers to this cultural capital of Assam and organise the first-ever conference of women writers in the state, Sheela Barthakur had not imagined that her efforts would one day turn into a women’s movement and create a network of 300 branches. At 73, this untiring lady, who retired as a college teacher in 1994, is glad that the country has recognised her services towards literature and social change. Barthakur is among the 71 distinguished individuals who have been selected for Padma Shri this year. It was because of Barthakur that the Sadau Asom Lekhika Samaroh Samiti — literally meaning All Assam Women Writers Convention Committee — not only created a new generation of women writers across Assam but also gave a new meaning to womanhood in the backdrop of changing times. “My aim was to motivate women to write and turn it into a movement for asserting their right to expression. Every woman has a story of suffering to tell. But it is very difficult to convert her into a writer, as she prefers to suffer silently. However, things are changing. Today, the Assamese women are more forthcoming than ever. Our members came up with 80 new books during the annual convention held earlier this month. The new breed of Assamese women are writing not just about their sufferings but their dreams as well,” said Barthakur. Her telephone has not stopped ringing for the past three days, with friends and well-wishers calling up to congratulate her.“It is an exceptional movement,” said Suniti Sonowal, who was elected president of the Samiti this month. “Jnanpith award winner Indira Goswami, former Union minister Bijoya Chakravarty, this year’s Sahitya Akademi winner Purabi Barmudoi — all are members of our Samiti,” she added. The organisation Barthakur founded and headed for 16 years has today over 10,000 members, all women, who may not necessarily compose poems or pen short stories, but are interested in literary activities. “It was a difficult task establishing 20 branches in the first year. But today, we have over 300 branches, including one each in Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai,” Barthakur said. Her followers not only publish their own books, but also go from door to door to sell them.The Samiti has carried out several projects, the most noteworthy being documenting the lives and literary contributions of 300 Assamese women writers. “It begins with Ai Padmapriya, a 16th century Vaishnavite poetess, followed by Elisa Whitney Brown, wife of Nathan Brown, an American Baptist missionary who co-founded Orunodoi, the first Assamese journal in 1845. The work runs into four volumes,” Barthakur added. As renowned Bengali author Nabanita Deb Sen put it, “The compilation of biographies of women writers since the 16th century is hard to find anywhere in the country.”A PhD on social change and the role of women in Assam since independence, Barthakur wrote her first poem when she was a primary school student. She has authored eight books — ranging from fiction to travelogues — and compiled and edited 12 volumes, including the complete works of Assamese women writers like Dharmeswari Devi Baruani and Nalinibala Devi. Barthakur herself is a multi-faceted personality and an excellent organiser. Apart from being an author and a poet, she also holds two degrees in classical music from Lucknow and Shantiniketan.
