Eli Ahmed is an Indian writer, scriptwriter, director, lyricist, costume designer, actress and social activist. She is also the editor, publisher and proprietor of ‘Orani’, the women's magazine. It is the only women's magazine in the Northeast since 1970. She had also organised the first women's drama group in Assam in 1967. She was awarded the

Padma Shri Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī''), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, ...

by the

Government of India The Government of India (ISO: ; often abbreviated as GoI), known as the Union Government or Central Government but often simply as the Centre, is the national government of the Republic of India, a federal democracy located in South Asia, c ...

in 2017 for her contribution to literature and education.

Early life

Eli Ahmed was born in an aristocratic family in

Nazira Nazira (IPA: nəˈzɪərə) is a town and a municipal board in Sivasagar district in the Indian state of Assam. Nazira is a historical town on the bank of the Dikhow River. It is around 18 km from Sivasagar city, 3 km from Simalugur ...

. Her father Abdur Rashid, was a surgeon. She lost her mother at a young age. She traces her roots to one of the five Parsi families referred to in Medini Mohan Choudhury's book ''Luit, Barak and Islam''. Eli is known by different names to many. Nalinibala Devi called her Pokhila (butterfly),

Nirmal Prabha Bordoloi Nirmal Prabha Bordoloi (1932/1933 – 1 June 2004) was an Indian poet, lyricist and folklorist associated with Assamese literature. She was president of the Asam Sahitya Sabha in 1991 held at Dudhnoi in Goalpara district. She received several a ...

calls her Beli (sun), filmmaker Brajen Barua called her Geet (song) and

Bhupen Hazarika Bhupen Hazarika () (8 September 1926 – 5 November 2011) was an Indian playback singer, lyricist, musician, poet, actor, filmmaker and politician from Assam, widely known as ''Sudha Kontho'' (meaning cuckoo, literally "nectar-throated"). His ...

calls her Rong (colour). And friends call her Jui or fire.

Career

From an early age she used to recite self-composed poems and children's rhymes. In 1967, she had formed a children's cultural group named ''Rong Chora'' and performed cultural programmes in different parts of Assam. Her first musical feature ''Bhagyor Chokori Ghure'' , was performed in the Nazira session of the

Asam Sahitya Sabha The Asam Sahitya Sabha (; Literary Society of Assam) is a non Government, non profit, literary organisation of Assam. It was founded in December 1917 in Assam, India to promote the culture of Assam and Assamese literature. A branch of the organi ...

in 1962. She came to Guwahati to appear for an interview at the ''Balak Sewika Prashikshan Kendra'' under the department of social welfare in 1965. She made her mark as a lyricist with Dwipen Barua's famous song ''Ga Ga Aji Gai Jaa Ei Geetoke Ga'' in Brajen Barua's famous film Dr. Bezbaruah. She has written lyrics for popular films like: *Baruar Sansar, *Sadari, *Sonmaina, *Pratidin, *Devata. She also wrote lyrics for the television serials Gadhuli, Sahual and Apabad. She has been the scriptwriter for several Assamese films like *Dhrubatora, *Bordoichila, *Bonphool, *Janambhumi . She has scripted five documentary films — *Old Monuments of Ahom Age, *Child Psychology, *Mahasheeta, *Syed Abdul Malik *The Milk. She was the storywriter of films like *Baruar Sansar, *Jakhini, *Bonphool, *Mukahgni, *Janambhumi *Rickshawala She was the scriptwriter, art director and costume designer for many of these films. She has to her credit several successful dramas — *Bhahkhari, *Kothatunu Ki, *Sakina Jethair Moni, *Kakadeutar Sadhu, *Natusola, *Ami Abhinay Kara Nai. Some of her books are *Ankur, a short story collection, *Moniram Dewan, published by Assam Sahitya Sabha, *Rongmonor Mon, *Moi Ketia Aita Hom, published by Asom Prakashan Parishad, *Asom Birangana published by the Department of Information and Broadcasting, government of India

Award and recognition

She is a life member of the

Assam Sahitya Sabha The Asam Sahitya Sabha (; Literary Society of Assam) is a non Government, non profit, literary organisation of Assam. It was founded in December 1917 in Assam, India to promote the culture of Assam and Assamese literature. A branch of the organi ...

and winner of the national literary prize on adult education for her book Bonphool in 1976. She also got Dr.

Award in 2011 and

Amalprava Das Amalprava Das, also known as Amal Prabha Das, (1911–1994) was an Indian social worker, Gandhian and the founder of ''Kasturba Ashram'' at Sarania Hills, Assam, a self help group for women and their economic upliftment and ''Guwahati Yubak Sev ...

Award in 2013 for her contributions to the field of literature. She was awarded the

by the

in 2017 for her contribution to literature and education.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ahmed, Eli Women writers from Assam Living people 1934 births