From Our Correspondent
GUWAHATI: The mortal remains of Jnanpith awardee and peace broker Dr Indira (Mamoni) Raisom Goswami were consigned to the flames at a public crematorium in her home city Guwahati on Wednesday noon in presence of a large gathering of her fans, friends, well-wishers and dignitaries. She died after a prolonged illness in a hospital here on Tuesday morning at the age of 69.
A state honour was accorded to the departed litterateur, one of the most prolific in contemporary world of literature, at the funeral, with a 21-gun salute being provided by Assam Police personnel.
Assam Governor JB Patnaik and CM Tarun Gogoi, among others, were present at the funeral.
Family members and fans bid a tearful adieu to their beloved ‘Mamoni baideu’ (elder sister) who used to champion the cause of the deprived and the weaker sections especially women in her writings.
Dr Goswami’s body was carried on a bamboo bier to the Nabagraha crematorium from her city-based residence in a procession this morning, with the funeral procession walking the three km distance.
The cremation was done at the public crematorium in keeping with the wishes of Dr Goswami, which she had earlier expressed before her family. The last rites were performed by her niece Mrinmoyee Goswami as per the wishes of Dr Goswami who had no children. Her husband died just 18 months after their marriage.
The body was lying in state in an air-conditioned casket at her residence since yesterday for the public to pay their last respects.
The palm and feet prints of Dr Goswami were taken on clay by forensic experts yesterday for preservation.
Her eyes which Dr Goswami had donated, would be preserved by city-based Shankar Netralaya hospital here.
A three-day state mourning is being observed in Assam since Tuesday and all government offices and institutions and educational institutes remained closed in the state today.
Dr Goswami had played a pivotal role in breaking the ice with the outlawed United Liberation Front of Assam in 2005 to facilitate dialogue with the govt.
A prominent writer on social issues, Ramayani literature was her special foray and was an internationally acclaimed scholar on the subject. Dr Goswami, who is a Professor Emeritus of Delhi University since 2009 after her retirement from the varsity, had refused the Padma Shree Award in 2002.
She is the winner of the Sahitya Akademi Award, the Jnanpith Award and is also India’s first Principal Prince Claus Laureate, among the numerous awards bestowed on her.