Rita Chowdhury

Rita Chowdhury (born 1960) is an Indian poet and novelist who writes Assamese literature and is a recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award. She is the editor of the Assamese literary magazine Gariyoshi and a former director of the National Book Trust, India. She has been associate professor and lecturer at Cotton College, Guwahati, Assam in the Political Science Department and was active in the Assam Movement in the early 1980s.

Early life and education Chowdhury was born in 1960 to the writer Biraja Nanda Chowdhury at Nampong in Tirap District of Arunachal Pradesh. She has spoken of the impact of the death of her older sister from cerebral malaria, including "I think my childhood ended the day she passed away," and how she "read obsessively, as if to try to forget the grief that surrounded me."

She holds a postgraduate degree in political science and a postgraduate degree in Assamese, as well as a doctorate in political science and a law degree. She wrote her first novel, Abirata Jatra, within three months, and it was published in 1981.

She received Sahitya Akademi Award in 2008 for the novel Deo Langkhui She spent four years writing her novel Makam (মাকাম) in Assamese, and it was published in 2010. In 2015, at a screening of the documentary Wars and Tears that she directed, she advocated for reunification of families separated during the Sino-Indian War in 1962. She also translated Makam into English, and it was published with the title Chinatown Days in 2018.

In 2011, she formed Adharxila, an organisation to support young writers and Assamese literature.

In 2015, she was appointed director of the National Book Trust in India.

In 2022, she became the editor of the Assam literary magazine Gariyoshi.

Teaching career Chowdhury started her teaching career as lecturer in political science in Diphu Government College, Karbi Anglong from the year 1989 to 1991. She then worked as lecturer from 1991 to 1996 and as senior lecturer from 1996 to 2001 at Cotton College, Guwahati, Assam in the Political Science Department. She became an associate professor in 2001.

In 2016, she left her position as associate professor to become the director of the National Book Trust in India.

Selected works

Novels Abirata Jatra (Relentless Journey) Ragmalkosh (Water lotus) in 2012 published by Jyoti Prakashan, Guwahati Makam (English) in 2015 published by The Pangea House, New Delhi. Bibranta Bastab in 2015 published by The Jyoti Prakashan, Guwahati.

Poems X.udoor Nakshatra (The Far-off Star) in 1989, published by Sofia Publishers, Guwahati Banariya Batahar Xuhuri (Whistle of the Wild Wind) in 1996 Alop Pooharar Alop Andharar (Streaks of Light and Darkness) in 1997 published by Lawyer's Book Stall, Guwahati Boga Matir Tulaxi (Black Basil on White Soil) in 1999 published by Lawyer's Book Stall, Guwahati

Other works The Divided Soul (Coffee Table Book) in 2015 published by The Pangea House Wars and Tears (Documentary, Director, Script Writer) produced by The Pangea House

Honours and awards

Assam Sahitya Sabha Award (First Prize awarded in the Manuscript Competition of Novel) in 1981 for the Novel, Abirata Yatra. Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha Award by Assam Sahitya Sabha, new Delhi in 2006 for the novel Deo Langkhui. Sahitya Akademi Award, 2008, for the novel Deo Langkhui. Felicitated by the Indian Overseas Chinese Organization on 23 May 2010 Lekhika Samoroh Xahitya Bata in 2011 by Sadou Axom lekhika Samoroh Samittee G.A. Kulkarni Award for Translation of the novel, Makam in Marathi Language in 2013 by Goa Hindu association, Mumbai The Telegraph Axom Shrestho award (literature), 2016 Assam Valley Literary Award, 2017 Ranangan Sanman award, 2021 Birangana Mulagabharu Award from the Tai Ahom Yuba Parishad, Assam, 2023

Research The Chinese Diaspora and 1962 Sino-Indian War

Personal life She is married to the politician Chandra Mohan Patowary. She has a son and a daughter.