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{{Short description|Indian writer (1944–2014)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox writer 
| name = Nalini Prava Deka
| image = Nalini_Prava_Deka.jpg
| alt =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1944|03|11}}
| birth_place = [[Assam]], India
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2014|06|15|1944|03|11}}
| death_place = [[Guwahati]], India
| occupation = Author, poet, storyteller, playwright, social activist, [[feminist]]
| years_active = 1964–2014
| spouse = [[Bhabananda Deka]]
| children = Ankur Deka, Arnab Jan Deka, [[Jim Ankan Deka]]
}}'''{{anchor|Bibliography}}'''
'''Nalini Prava Deka''' (11 March 1944 – 15 June 2014) was an author, poet, storyteller, actress and playwright from [[Assam]], a state in India encompassing the [[Brahmaputra Valley]]. She was honoured at a 2012 gathering in [[Ledo, Assam|Ledo]] by the [[Asam Sahitya Sabha|Assam Sahitya Sabha]] (Assam Literary Society).<ref name="Tinsukia Online">{{cite web|last1=Online|first1=Tinsukia|title=Assam Sahitya Sabha 2012, Ledo|url=http://www.tinsukiaonline.com/2012/02/assam-sahitya-sabha-2012-lidu-7th.html|website=tinsukiaonline.com|access-date=10 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304071149/http://www.tinsukiaonline.com/2012/02/assam-sahitya-sabha-2012-lidu-7th.html|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Deka promoted Assamese heritage, traditional customs, weaving and fabric art, cooking and folk music with her husband, [[Bhabananda Deka]].<ref name="The Sentinel">{{cite news|last1=Sentinel|first1=The|title=Documentary film, books on Bhabananda–Nalini Prava|url=http://www.sentinelassam.com/ghy_city/story.php?sec=1&subsec=0&id=211080&dtP=2014-12-04&ppr=1#.VJpNfsAHI|access-date=9 January 2015|date=4 December 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924100737/http://www.sentinelassam.com/ghy_city/story.php?sec=1&subsec=0&id=211080&dtP=2014-12-04&ppr=1#.VJpNfsAHI|archive-date=24 September 2015}}</ref> They researched traditional Assamese lifestyle, art, literature and culture.<ref>{{cite news|title=Documentary Screening, Books Release Function|url=http://m.newshunt.com/india/english-newspapers/the-assam-tribune/news/documentary-screening-books-release-function_34098988/c-in-l-english-n-theassam-ncat-news|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150201213900/http://m.newshunt.com/india/english-newspapers/the-assam-tribune/news/documentary-screening-books-release-function_34098988/c-in-l-english-n-theassam-ncat-news|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 February 2015|publisher=News Hunt|date=4 December 2014}}</ref><ref name="ReviewNE">{{cite web|title=Principal Bhabananda-Nalini Prabha Deka Endowment Lecture|url=http://reviewne.com/dutch-river-scientist-dr-constantin-stere-launched-arnab-jan-dekas-books-brahmaputra-docu-film|website=www.reviewne.com|access-date=21 April 2015}}</ref><ref name="Sankarjyoti">{{cite news|last1=Sankarjyoti|first1=Dainik|title=Endowment Lecture on Principal Bhabananda-Nalini Prava organised|url=http://www.sankarjyoti.com/current_issue.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225073611/http://www.sankarjyoti.com/current_issue.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 December 2013|access-date=8 August 2015|date=27 February 2015}}</ref> Deka was the first female editor and publisher of a children's magazine, ''Phul'' (''Flower''),<ref name="An Extraordinary Assamese Couple">{{cite book|last1=Deka|first1=Arnab Jan|title=An Extraordinary Assamese Couple : Life & Socio-Literary Contributions of Prof. Bhabananda Deka & Nalini Prava Deka|date=28 February 2015|publisher=Universal Books & Assam Foundation-India|location=Guwahati, India|isbn=978-1-50845-889-0|pages=38–40|edition=1}}</ref> and wrote 30 critically praised books.<ref name="The Sentinel"/> All India Radio broadcast Deka's radio plays on issues related to women and children.<ref name="The Sentinel"/><ref name=Documentary>{{cite news|last1=Tribune|first1=The Assam|title=Remembering a scholar|url=http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/showpage.asp?id=jan2415%2C12%2C87%2C156%2C1326%2C684|access-date=24 January 2015|publisher=Assam Tribune Pvt Ltd|date=24 January 2015|archive-date=28 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128132531/http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/showpage.asp?id=jan2415%2C12%2C87%2C156%2C1326%2C684|url-status=dead}}</ref>

According to ''[[the Assam Tribune]]'', Deka has "been like an institution to our society" and "has contributed immensely to the cultural and economic spheres of our state".<ref name="Documentary"/> ''Dainik Sankarjyoti'', an Assamese daily published in [[Guwahati]], described how she played a significant part in nurturing the traditional indigenous Assamese lifestyle and social ethos by promoting indigenous Assamese weaving traditions (maintaining ''taat xaal''—hand looms for weaving ''mekhela sadawr'' and ''suriya chapkawn'') and ''dheki'' (traditional Assamese crop grinders for rice and ''pithaguri''.<ref name="Sankarjyoti" />{{additional citation needed|date=November 2016}} Deka died on 15 June 2014 in Guwahati. ChaiTunes released a music video as a tribute.<ref name="Music Malt">{{cite web|last1=Malk|first1=Music|title=Chaitunes to Release the First Music Video – a Tribute to Assamese Writer Duo|url=http://www.musicmalt.com/2015/04/chaitunes-to-release-first-music-video.html|website=www.musicmalt.com|access-date=8 August 2015}}</ref><ref name="http://reviewne.com">{{cite news|title=Bangalore based music company releases Assamese music video featuring Queen Hazarika and Jim Ankan Deka|url=http://reviewne.com/bangalore-based-music-company-releases-assamese-music-video-featuring-queen-hazarika-jim-ankan-deka|access-date=8 August 2015|publisher=reviewne.com}}</ref>

=={{anchor|Flag-bearer of traditional Assamese lifestyle}}Traditional Assamese lifestyle==
A poet, Deka inculcated the legacy of Assamese culture and heritage in her children.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Samhita|first1=Sankhya|title=In Conversation – Jim Ankan Deka|url=http://www.friedeye.com/in-conversation-jim-ankan-deka/|website=friedeye.com|date=July 2010 |access-date=10 October 2015}}</ref> She set up an indigenous Assamese traditional hand loom (''taat-xaal'') at her homes in New Delhi and Guwahati to produce hand-woven fabrics and garments. Deka wore her hand-woven ''mekhela-sadawr'' and wove ''suriya-sapkawns'' for her husband to wear.<ref name="ReviewNE" /><ref name="Sankarjyoti" /><ref name="An Extraordinary Assamese Couple" /> She set up a crop-grinding tool (''dheki'') at home, using it to producing her family's food from organic herbs. Raw paddy, including rice, wheat and lentils, was ground to produce traditional Assamese food and snacks such as ''saul'', ''kumawl saul'', '' bora saul'', ''sira'', ''aakhoi'' and ''xandawh''. Deka demonstrated self-reliance, even in the city.<ref name="ReviewNE" /><ref name="Sankarjyoti" />

=={{anchor|Book author|Short story writer|Poet and songwriter|Editor of children's magazine}}Author==
Deka wrote and edited a total of 30 books, mostly in Assamese. Some of her writing, including short stories, have been translated into English.<ref name="Documentary"/> Deka's books have been reviewed by [[Maheswar Neog]], [[Bhupen Hazarika]], Pramod Chandra Bhattacharya, [[Sheelabhadra]], Rammal Thakuria, [[Bhabananda Deka]], Bisweswar Hazarika and Kanak Chandra Deka. She had a cordial relationship with Bhupen Hazarika and [[Mamoni Raisom Goswami]] (Indira Goswami), and Hazarika wrote an article about one of her books.<ref>{{cite web|last1=India|first1=North East|title=Dr. Mamoni Raisom Goswami – a Tribute by Nalini Prava Deka|url=http://www.india-north-east.com/2011/12/dr-mamoni-raisom-goswami-tribute-by.html|website=india-north-east.com|access-date=10 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304101314/http://www.india-north-east.com/2011/12/dr-mamoni-raisom-goswami-tribute-by.html|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=India|first1=North East|title=Dr. Bhupen Hazarika – a Tribute by Nalini Prava Deka|url=http://www.india-north-east.com/2010/10/dr-bhupen-hazarika-tribute-by-nalini.html|website=india-north-east.com|access-date=10 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304092429/http://www.india-north-east.com/2010/10/dr-bhupen-hazarika-tribute-by-nalini.html|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
A compilation by Deka and her husband entitled ''Sahityik Dampati Adhyaksha Bhabananda Deka–Nalini Prava Deka''<ref>{{cite news|author=Staff Reporter|title=Documentary, Books to be released|url=http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=dec0414|publisher=The Assam Tribune|date=4 December 2014|access-date=28 March 2015|archive-date=3 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200503042216/http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=dec0414|url-status=dead}}</ref> was introduced on 4 December 2014 in Guwahati.<ref name="The Sentinel"/><ref name="Documentary"/> Another book (''An Extraordinary Assamese Couple'', about Deka and her husband) was introduced on 28 February 2015 by Dutch scientist and author Constantin Aurel Stere.<ref name="ReviewNE" />

She wrote three short-story collections, including 2011's ''Elandhu'' (''Smut'', with some English-language stories) and ''Ebigha Mati'' (''A Plot of Land'') (1990).<ref name="The Sentinel"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Assamese Writer Nalini Prava Deka's Book 'Elandhu' Released in Guwahati|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KdmHWdf5vI|website=YouTube|access-date=31 December 2014}}</ref> Deka's short stories emphasized brotherhood and religious tolerance.<ref name="Google Books">{{cite web|last1=Books|first1=Google|title=Elandhu : The Soot|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Vu7KzXWgr-YC|website=books.google.com|date=21 March 2012|publisher=Eastern Fare Foundation}}</ref> Many of her poems were played and sung by Assamese musicians and singers.<ref name="Music Malt"/><ref name="http://reviewne.com"/> Deka began editing a popular children's magazine, ''Phul'' (''Flower''), in 1987<ref name="Documentary"/><ref name="The Sentinel"/> and printed and published the magazine for several years on her own printing press.<ref name="An Extraordinary Assamese Couple"/>

=={{anchor|Radio playwright}}Playwright==
Deka was a popular Assamese first-generation female radio playwright in Assam since the early 1970s. Her plays centered around issues concerning women and children,<ref name="Documentary"/> and many were broadcast on [[All India Radio]] from Guwahati.<ref name="Documentary film">{{cite news|work=The Sentinel|title=Documentary film, books on Bhabananda–Nalini Prava|url=http://www.sentinelassam.com/ghy_city/story.php?sec=1&subsec=0&id=211080&dtP=2014-12-04&ppr=1#211080|access-date=31 December 2014|publisher=Omega Publishers Pvt Ltd|date=4 December 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924100737/http://www.sentinelassam.com/ghy_city/story.php?sec=1&subsec=0&id=211080&dtP=2014-12-04&ppr=1#211080|archive-date=24 September 2015}}</ref> Deka acted in some of her radio plays and onstage.

=={{anchor|Prominent social activist of North East India}}Social activist==
Deka was a leading social activist in Assam and played a role in the establishment of national and international organisations, including the Srimanta Sankardev International Foundation, Assam Foundation–India, Delhi Asomiya Sahitya Samaj, Sadou Asam Moina Parijat, Kamrup (undivided) District Sahitya Sabha, Sadou Asam Chemoniya Chora, Pub–Sarania Naamghar, Rajgarh Sahitya Chora, Pohar Proyasi Mohila Samiti, Urvashi Kristi Kendra and Urvashi Sangeet Vidyalay. She was the founding president of Purbanchaliya Mohila Parishad, the female wing of a regional political organisation in [[Northeast India]]. Through these organisations, Deka promoted Assamese heritage, culture and literature all over the world and began a social renaissance through female empowerment and religious tolerance.<ref name="The Sentinel" /> Her effort to create a social awakening in Assam inspired the song, "Xare Aso" ("We Are Awake").<ref name="Music Malt"/><ref name="http://reviewne.com"/><ref>{{cite web|last1=Assam|first1=Magical|title=Xaare Asu|url=http://www.magicalassam.com/2015/05/xaare-aasu-queen-hazarika-and-jim-ankan-deka-video.html|website=magicalassam.com|access-date=8 August 2015}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Indian writers]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Authority control}}
{{Portal bar|Biography|India|Literature|Society|Books}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Deka, Nalini Prava}}
[[Category:1944 births]]
[[Category:2014 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:Assamese-language poets]]
[[Category:Indian storytellers]]
[[Category:Indian women dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:People from Barpeta district]]
[[Category:Writers from Guwahati]]
[[Category:People from Kamrup district]]
[[Category:Poets from Assam]]
[[Category:Women writers from Assam]]
[[Category:Dramatists and playwrights from Assam]]
[[Category:Writers from Northeast India]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women poets]]

Nalini Prava Deka - Revision history

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