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{{short description|Indian writer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2023}}
{{infobox writer
| name = Rita Chowdhury
| image =
| imagesize = 200px
| alt =
| pseudonym =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1960|08|17}}
| birth_place = [[Tirap district|Tirap]], [[Arunachal Pradesh]], India
| death_date =
| death_place =
| occupation = [[Novelist]], [[Poet]], Editor
| education = [[Master of Arts|M.A.]], [[LLB]], [[Ph.D.]]
| alma_mater =
| period = 1981–present
| genre = Historical fiction, poetry
| subject =
| movement = [[Assamese literature]]
| notableworks = ''[[Deo Langkhui]]'', ''Makam'', ''Chinatown Days''
| spouse = [[Chandra Mohan Patowary]]
| partner =
| children = 2
| relatives =
| awards = [[Assam Sahitya Sabha]] award (1981)<br/> [[Sahitya Akademi Award]] (2008)<br/>[[Assam Valley Literary Award]] (2017)
| signature =
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| website =
| portaldisp =
}}

'''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 [[Literary editor|editor]] of the Assamese literary magazine ''[[Gariyoshi]]'' and a former director of the [[National Book Trust]], India.<ref name="Zahan 2022">{{cite magazine |last1=Zahan |first1=Syeda Ambia |date=13 June 2022 |title=Regional Literature Needs Quality Translators: Assam Poet Rita Chowdhury |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/culture-society/regional-literature-needs-quality-translators-assamese-writer-rita-chowdhury-weekender_story-201835 |magazine=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]] |access-date=8 May 2023}}</ref> 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]].<ref name="Telegraph 2009"/> She did her schooling in Upper [[Haflong]] L.P. School and higher secondary in [[Margherita]] Public Higher Secondary School.<ref name="Telegraph 2009">{{cite news |title=The heart yearns for days of yore |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/the-heart-yearns-for-days-of-yore/cid/511616 |access-date=17 June 2021 |work=The Telegraph India |date=17 January 2009}}</ref> 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."<ref name="Raimedhi 2014"/> She has described reading the works of [[Bankim Chandra]], [[Lakshminath Bezbarua]], [[Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay|Sarat Chandra]], [[Rabindranath Tagore]], [[Jyoti Prasad Agarwala]], [[Sankar (writer)|Shankar]], and [[Sankho Maharaj]] during this time.<ref name="Raimedhi 2014"/>

Her family moved to [[Guwahati]] in 1980, during the [[Assam Movement]]; she became involved in the movement and was jailed several times.<ref name="Raimedhi 2014"/><ref name="Telegraph 2009"/><ref name="Das 2012"/><ref name="Deka 2017"/> She was in jail when her first novel was published in 1981.<ref name="Deka 2017">{{cite news |last1=Deka |first1=Kaushik |title=The power couple |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/up-front/story/20170320-assam-agitation-dr-rita-chowdhury-chandra-mohan-patowary-sarbananda-sonowal-985975-2017-03-10 |access-date=8 May 2023 |work=[[India Today]] |date=10 March 2017 |language=en}}</ref>

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.<ref name="Raimedhi 2014"/> She passed her B.A. in political science from [[Cotton College, Guwahati|Cotton College]] under Gauhati University in 1982. She is double [[Master of Arts|MA]] in [[political science]] and Assamese from [[Gauhati University]] with [[Bachelor of Law|LLB]] (1990) and [[Ph.D.]]. She did Ph.D. from Gauhati University on Comparative Literature in 2005. Her thesis was on Society and Women psychology depicted in Nirupama Borgohain and Ashapurna Devi's Novels: a Comparative Study.

==Literary career==
Chowdhury began writing in 1981, during the [[Assam Movement]].<ref name="Das 2012">{{cite news |last1=Das |first1=Guarav |title=Assam Agitation gave me fodder for my book: Rita Choudhury |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Assam-Agitation-gave-me-fodder-for-my-book-Rita-Choudhury/articleshow/16998050.cms |access-date=8 May 2023 |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=29 October 2012}}</ref> She wrote her first novel, ''Abirata Jatra'', within three months, and it was published in 1981.<ref name="Das 2012"/><ref name="cd" /> She won an award from the [[Asom Sahitya Sabha]] for this book.<ref name="Das 2012"/> She then married politician [[Chandra Mohan Patowary]] and stopped writing until after the birth of her daughter.<ref name="Raimedhi 2014"/>

Chowdhury then wrote a series of novels, including ''Tirthabhumi'' (The Shrine) in 1988, ''Maha Jibanar Adharshila'' (Foundation Stone of Great Life) in 1993, ''Nayana Tarali Sujata'' in 1996, ''Popiya Torar Xadhu'' (Tale of a shooting star) in 1998, Rag-malkosh in 1999, Jala-Padma (Water-Lotus) in 1999, Hridoy Nirupai (The Helpless Heart) in 2003, [[Deo Langkhui]] (The Divine Sword) in 2005, ''Makam'' (The Golden Horse) in 2010 and ''Mayabritta'' (The Circle of Worldly Illusion) in 2012.

Her poetry collections include ''Xudoor Nakshatra'', ''Banariya Batahar Xuhuri'', ''Alop Pooharar Alop Andharar'', and ''Boga Matir Tulaxi''.<ref name="Raimedhi 2014">{{cite book |last1=Raimedhi |first1=Indrani |title=My Half of the Sky: 12 Life Stories of Courage |date=2014 |publisher=[[SAGE Publications]] |isbn=9789351504740 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZRlBDwAAQBAJ&dq=Rita+Chowdhury+Xudoor+Nakshatra&pg=PT125 |access-date=8 May 2023}}</ref>

She received [[Sahitya Akademi Award]] in 2008 for the novel ''[[Deo Langkhui]]''<ref name="Telegraph 2009" /> which is based on the [[Tiwa (Lalung)|Tiwa]]s of Assam.<ref name="TOI 2015">{{cite news |title=NBT gets first Assamese chief |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=18 July 2015}} {{ProQuest|1697413496}}</ref> She spent four years writing her novel ''Makam (মাকাম)'' in Assamese, and it was published in 2010.<ref name="Das 2012" /> After ''Makam'' was published, she publicly called for greater acceptance of Assamese people of Chinese origin, and met with Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in November 2010 as part of her advocacy.<ref>{{cite news |title=Call to embrace people of Chinese origin |work=[[The Assam Tribune]] |date=7 November 2010}} {{ProQuest|762633846}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |title='Initiate steps to reunite Indian Chinese with families' |work=[[The Assam Tribune]] |date=19 May 2015}} {{ProQuest|1681532158}}</ref> She also translated ''Makam'' into English, and it was published with the title ''Chinatown Days'' in 2018.<ref name="Kire 2018"/><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=9 January 2019|title=Chinatown Days by Rita Chowdhury: Tales from a lost town|url=https://www.purplepencilproject.com/book-review-chinatown-days-by-rita-chowdhury-tales-from-a-lost-town/|access-date=4 July 2020|website=Purple Pencil Project|language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2011, she formed ''Adharxila'', an organisation to support young writers<ref>{{cite news |last1=Konwar |first1=Rajiv |title=Naga life through eyes of a militant |work=[[The Telegraph (India)|The Telegraph]] |date=8 November 2015}} {{ProQuest|2289580423}}</ref> and Assamese literature.<ref>{{cite news |title=Forum boost to Assamese - Author launches Adharxila to elevate literature, culture & society |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/forum-boost-to-assamese-author-launches-adharxila-to-elevate-literature-culture-society/cid/372120 |access-date=9 May 2023 |work=[[The Telegraph (India)|The Telegraph]] |date=25 July 2011}}</ref>

In 2015, she was appointed director of the [[National Book Trust]] in India.<ref>{{cite news |title=Chowdhury new NBT Director |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/chowdhury-new-nbt-director/cid/1391442 |access-date=7 May 2023 |work=[[The Telegraph (India)|The Telegraph]] |date=17 July 2015 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="TOI 2015" /> She resigned in January 2019.<ref name="SA 2019"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Dr Rita Chowdhury resigns from National Book Trust (NBT) |url=https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/story/rita-chowdhury-resigns-392804-2019-01-11 |access-date=8 May 2023 |work=[[India Today]] NE |date=11 January 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

In 2022, she became the editor of the Assam literary magazine ''[[Gariyoshi]]''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rita Chowdhury takes charge as Editor of Gariyoshi |work=[[The Assam Tribune]] |date=1 April 2022}} {{ProQuest|2646092329}}</ref>

==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.<ref name="SA 2019">{{cite news |title=Rita Chowdhury quits as NBT Director |url=https://www.sentinelassam.com/guwahati-city/rita-chowdhury-quits-as-nbt-director/ |access-date=8 May 2023 |work=[[The Sentinel (Guwahati)|The Sentinel]] |date=11 January 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

==Selected works==
{{Biblio|date=June 2015}}

===Novels===
*''Abirata Jatra'' (Relentless Journey)<ref name="Telegraph 2013"/> in 1981 published by Bani Mandir, [[Dibrugarh]]
*''Thirthabhumi'' (Pilgrimage)<ref name="Telegraph 2013"/> in 1988 published by Deepti Prakashan, [[Dibrugarh]]
*''Maha Jibanar Adharshila'' (Foundation of a great life)<ref name="Telegraph 2013"/> in 1993 published by Jyoti Prakashan, [[Dibrugarh]]
*''Nayana Tarali Sujata'' (Tale of a Meteor)<ref name="Telegraph 2013"/> in (1996), published by Lawyer's Book Stall, [[Guwahati]]
*''Popiya Torar Sadhu'' (Tale of a Meteor)<ref name="Telegraph 2013"/> in 1998 published by Cambridge India, [[Guwahati]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=may2713/city07|title=The Assam Tribune Online|website=www.assamtribune.com|access-date=16 October 2019}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
*''Ragmalkosh'' (Water lotus)<ref name="Telegraph 2013"/> in (1999), published by Assam Book Depot, [[Guwahati]]
*''Jala Padma'' (Water lotus)<ref name="Telegraph 2013"/> in 1999 published by Assam Book Depot, [[Guwahati]]
*''Hridoy Nirupai'' (The Heart is Helpless)<ref name="Telegraph 2013"/> in 2003 published by Jyoti Prakashan, [[Guwahati]]
*''[[Deo Langkhui]]'' (The Divine Sword)<ref name="Telegraph 2013"/> in 2005 published by Jyoti Prakashan, [[Guwahati]]
*''Ei Xomoi Xei Xomoi''
* {{cite book |title=Makam ("Golden Horse") |date=2010 |publisher=Jyoti Prakashan |location=Guwahati |isbn=978-81-920061-0-9}}<ref name="Sarma 2013">{{cite journal |last1=Sarma |first1=Jasnea |title=Makam |journal=Asian Ethnicity |date=January 2013 |volume=14 |issue=1 |pages=117–120 |doi=10.1080/14631369.2012.722450|s2cid=214614489 |via=SocINDEX with Full Text}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Changmai |first1=Manashi |title=REMEMBERING PAST: A NEW HISTORICAL STUDY OF RITA CHOWDHURY'S MAKAM |journal=International Education and Research Journal |date=15 July 2017 |volume=3 |issue=7 |url=https://archive.org/details/httpsierj.injournalindex.phpierjarticleview1203/mode/2up |issn=2454-9916}}</ref><ref name="Telegraph 2013"/>
* ''Rajib Eshwar''
* ''Jahnabi''
*''Mayabritta'' (Circle of Illusion)<ref name="Telegraph 2013">{{cite news |title=A tale of illusions and experiences - Mayabritta may be Chowdhury's last novel |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/a-tale-of-illusions-and-experiences-mayabritta-may-be-chowdhury-s-last-novel/cid/345252 |access-date=7 May 2023 |work=[[The Telegraph (India)|The Telegraph]] |date=3 January 2013 |language=en}}</ref> 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.
*{{cite book |title=Chinatown Days |date=2018 |publisher=[[Pan Macmillan India]] |location=New Delhi |isbn=9781509896561}}<ref name="Kire 2018">{{cite news |last1=Kire |first1=Easterine |title=This novel is the untold tragic history of Chinese settlers in Assam (and of love and separation) |url=https://scroll.in/article/869904/this-novel-is-the-untold-tragic-history-of-chinese-settlers-in-assam-and-of-love-and-separation |access-date=7 May 2023 |work=[[Scroll.in]] |date=25 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Doctor |first1=Geeta |title=Chinatown Days by Rita Chowdhury reviewed by Geeta Doctor |url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/chinatown-days-by-rita-chowdhury-reviewed-by-geeta-doctor/article22772260.ece |access-date=7 May 2023 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=17 February 2018 |language=en-IN}}</ref><ref name="Basu 2018" />
*{{Cite book |title=The Divine Sword |publisher=[[Pan Macmillan India]] |year=2024 |isbn=9789390742363 |location=New Delhi |publication-date=29 January 2024}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Borbora |first=Reeta |date=2024-02-16 |title=Revenge and Redemption |url=https://openthemagazine.com/lounge/books/revenge-and-redemption-2/ |access-date=2024-02-27 |website=Open The Magazine |language=en-GB}}</ref>

===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)<ref name="BS 2015">{{cite news |title=Assamese of Chinese origin facing severe identity crisis |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/assamese-of-chinese-origin-facing-severe-identity-crisis-115051700354_1.html |access-date=8 May 2023 |work=[[Business Standard]] |agency=[[Press Trust of India]] |date=17 May 2015}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.guwahatiplus.com/article-detail/meet-dr-rita-chowdhury-assamese-author-and-director-of-national-book-trust-of-india|title=Meet Dr Rita Chowdhury – Assamese Author and Director of National Book Trust of India|website=G Plus|language=en|access-date=16 October 2019}}</ref>
*Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha Award by [[Assam Sahitya Sabha]], new Delhi in 2006 for the novel Deo Langkhui.<ref name="cd">{{cite web|url=http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=feb1809/at05|title=Chowdhury, Narzary given Akademi award|date=18 February 2009|publisher=[[The Assam Tribune]]|access-date=22 October 2009|archive-date=19 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219170112/http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=feb1809%2Fat05|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*[[Sahitya Akademi Award]], 2008, for the novel [[Deo Langkhui]].<ref name="AT 2008">{{cite news |title=Literary feats lauded |url=http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=dec2908/City2 |work=[[The Assam Tribune]] |date=29 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219170116/http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=dec2908/City2 |archive-date=19 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1617166911.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026061213/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1617166911.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 October 2012|title=Sahitya Adademi Awards for Choudhury, Narzary|date=23 December 2008 |access-date=8 July 2009}}</ref>
*Felicitated by the Indian Overseas Chinese Organization on 23 May 2010<ref name="Talukdar 2010">{{cite news |last1=Talukdar |first1=Sushanta |title=Assamese of Chinese origin can visit State: Gogoi |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/Assamese-of-Chinese-origin-can-visit-State-Gogoi/article15678450.ece |access-date=9 May 2023 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=8 November 2010}}</ref>
*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<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sengupta |first1=Avishek |title=Honour for Assam's finest stalwarts |work=[[The Telegraph (India)|The Telegraph]] |date=28 October 2016}} {{ProQuest|2290148286}}</ref>
*[[Assam Valley Literary Award]], 2017<ref>{{cite news |title=Assam Valley Literary Award presented |work=[[The Assam Tribune]] |date=25 March 2018}} {{ProQuest|2017459832}}</ref>
*Ranangan Sanman award, 2021<ref>{{cite news |title=Ranangan Sanman-2021 presented to Rita Chowdhury |work=[[The Assam Tribune]] |date=4 December 2021}} {{ProQuest|2607203540}}</ref>
*Birangana Mulagabharu Award from the Tai Ahom Yuba Parishad, Assam, 2023<ref>{{cite news |title=Rita Chowdhury to receive Birangana Mulagabharu Award |url=https://www.sentinelassam.com/guwahati-city/rita-chowdhury-to-receive-birangana-mulagabharu-award-637868 |access-date=8 May 2023 |work=[[The Sentinel (Guwahati)|The Sentinel]] |date=17 February 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

==Research==
*The Chinese Diaspora and 1962 Sino-Indian War<ref name="BS 2015" />
*Tea History of Assam<ref name="Basu 2018"/>
*Tea Community of Assam<ref name="Basu 2018"/>
*Tiwa Tribe of Assam.
*The Assamese Chinese Community<ref name="Basu 2018">{{cite news |last1=Basu |first1=Anjan |title=The author describes the customs and traditions of the Assamese Chinese, and the lives of the so-called 'tea tribes' minutely |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/outlooktraveller/travelnews/story/66224/book-review-chinatown-days-rita-chowdhury |access-date=8 May 2023 |work=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]] |date=3 April 2018}}</ref>

==Personal life==
She is married to the politician [[Chandra Mohan Patowary]].<ref name="Telegraph 2009" /><ref name="Raimedhi 2014"/> She has a son and a daughter.<ref name="Raimedhi 2014"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*http://ritachowdhury.in/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215041011/http://ritachowdhury.in/ |date=15 February 2019 }}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chowdhury, Rita}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Assamese]]
[[Category:People from Kamrup Metropolitan district]]
[[Category:Assam academics]]
[[Category:Poets from Assam]]
[[Category:Assamese-language poets]]
[[Category:Writers from Arunachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian novelists]]
[[Category:Cotton College, Guwahati alumni]]
[[Category:People from Tirap district]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:Women writers from Assam]]
[[Category:Novelists from Assam]]
[[Category:Women writers from Arunachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Writers from Assam]]
[[Category:Writers from Northeast India]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Assam Valley Literary Award]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian women writers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women poets]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women novelists]]

Rita Chowdhury - Revision history

JoanneMoffit: Put Up Data