Names of Padma Awardees have been declared. From Gorkha community, Author-educationist Gita Upadhyaya of Assam and folk artist Naren Gurung from Sikkim are going to be honoured with the fourth highest civilian award, Padmashree by the Govt. of India this year for their outstanding contributions in the field of art, education and literature. Gita Upadhyaya is the only woman to receive the coveted Padmashree Award from Govt. of India from Assam this year.
Gita Upadhyaya came of the illustrious family of Chhabilal Upadhyaya, a noted freedom fighter of Assam. She was bornon 14 February in 1939 as the eldest daughter of Tankanath Upadhyaya and his wife Bhagirathi Devi at the village Gangmouthan of the then Darrang District (now Biswanath) of Assam. Tankanathwas the eldest son of ChhabilalUpadyaya.At that time, when the entire country was under the turmoil of freedom movementChhabilal, along with other stalwarts came outas a leading person from the Gorkha community.His house at Gangmouthan became a safe hiding hub for the freedom fighters. He united the Nepali speaking people against the British mis-rule.
Gita Upadhyaya began her primary education at Gangmouthan
Balika Prathamik Vidyalaya. Thereafter, she was admitted to Behali High School
from where she passed High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) examination in 1955.
Then she moved to Guwahati for higher studies. She completed her Bachelor’s
degree from Handique Girls’ College in 1959. She also acquired postgraduate
degree in Political Science in the year of 1964 and created record of becoming
the first lady graduate and postgraduate from the Gorkha community of Assam. In
those days after acquiring the Master’s degree, she had many job opportunities
but she chose to become a teacher. She joined Sibsagar College as a lecturer in
the year 1965. She served in this college for long thirty-four years and
superannuated as the Head of Political Science
in 1999 from that college.
Her father, Tankanathwas a
voracious reader and a translator. He had translated some plays of Willium
Shakespeare. There was a library in their house and there was a good collection
of magazines and books of Assamese and Bengali languages. In this way, young
GitaUpadhyaya got a favourableatmosphere at her own home.
As such, Gita Upadyaya, in
her early teens came in contact with renowned freedom fighters and authors like
Jyoti Prasad Agarwala, Amio Kumar Das, Chandrakanta Sarma and was greatly
inspired by them which helped her to build a sense of strong determination to
achieve her goal by overcoming all obstacles. It must be mentioned that it was
no mean achievement for a woman of that time to overcome all superstitious
traditions, acquire higher degrees of education and become a lecturer at
Sibsagar College. Due to her amiable nature, very soon, she became popular
among the students and teaching staff of the college. At Sibsagar college she
took part in extra-curricular activities. She organised scout team in the
college and led her team at various jamborees. As an active member of SUGASA
club she took part in dramatic and cultural activities. Her creative talent
flourished at Sibsagar college.
Her first published book was
a translation of the internationally acclaimed diary of Ann Frank which she
translated from English to Nepali in 1972. She, along with co-translator
Basanti Laskar rendered the same book into Assamese in 1975.Thereafter, she
devoted herself to creative activities and so far,has produced literature in
various genres, such as -- poetry, fiction, essay, travelogue, biography,
children literature and translation. Her pen parallelly runs both in Assamese
and Nepali language.
Gita Upadhyaya is a prolific
author. She is immensely drawn towards the social, historical and cultural
milieu around her, and this aspect is well reflected in her creative works.
Apart from being an eminent author, translator and educationist, tender spokenUpadhyaya
is also known for her social activities. She is associated with a number ofsocial
as well as literary organizations. She is continuously working for the
betterment of our society and humanity as a whole. She rendered remarkable
service as the President of Nepali Sahitya Parisad, Assam, Akhil Asom
Lekhika Sanstha and Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangha, Assam Branch.
The most outstanding
contribution of Gita Upadhyaya lies in her tireless efforts towards nation
building and bridging the diversity of our society through the fine thread of
her translation works. As a translator to and from other languages to Nepali
and vice versa, she has played a very pivotal role in strengthening nationalunity
and integrity.
Her latest publication is a
memoir named JivanlaiPharkera Herda which is an autobiography of the
author. Her masterpiece novel Janmabhumi Mero Swadesh is based on the
life of her grand-father, Chhabilal Upadhyaya.Chhabilal Upadhyaya was a freedom
fighter and a social reformer. The socio-political scenario of three decades
prior to independence is well depicted in this novel.The life of Gorkhali
people under illiteracy, superstition, addiction to drugs,childmarriage and deplorable
condition of local people,particularly of women-folkare remarkably sketched in
the novel. The aim of the novelist is also to pay her tribute to the legacy of
herfore-fathers as well as to all those who sacrificed their lives for the
country.This novel won the coveted Sahitya Akademi awardfor her in 2016.
Earlier, in 2012, she was awarded Sahitya Akademitranslation award for DarbarkiSusare,
the popular play of RupkonwarJyoti Prasad Agarwala which shetranslated from Assamese
to Nepali.So far, she has authored and translated two dozen of books in both
Assamese and Nepali Language. Her works may be broadly categorised as given
below:
Original Works in Nepali
1.
Aamaa Ma First Bhayen (children’s novel, 1997)
2.
Mahapurush Shankardev: Jeevan Ra Karma (Biography,
2003)
3.
Mandakini Ra Alakanandako Tiraitir Badri Kedarsamma(Travelogue,
2003)
4.
Kathanjali (collection of short stories, 2005)
5.
Janmabhumi Mero Swadesh (novel, 2013)
6.
JiwanlaiPharkera Herda (Autobiography, 2018)
Original Works in Assamese language
1.
Maa Moi First Halon (children’s novel, 1997)
2. Nepal Deshar
Loka-Xadhu (folk tales, 2001)
3.
SubasitBatah (collection of short stories, 2005)
Translated works in Nepali
1.
Ann Frankko Diary (Diary, 1972)
2.
DarbarkiSusare
3.
(Drama, 2008)
4.
Abhivyakti (novel, 2010)
Translated Works in Assamese
1.
Ann Frankar Diary (Diary, 1975; co-author Basanti
Laskar)
2.
Bhanubhaktar Ramayan (epic, 987)
3.
Kala Suruj (novel, 1998)
4.
Muna-Madan (semi-epic, 2000)
5.
Thalua Santan (novel, 2003)
6.
Nij AbhivyaktirDaponatKarmabir Dhan Bahadur Sonar (autobiography,
2008)
7.
Aanandi Gopal (novel, 2008)
In addition to these, he has
edited a good number of books both in Assamese and Nepali language.
Awards and Felicitations
Gita Upadhya was awarded and
felicitated on various occasions for her contribution to literature and social work
which include:
Padma
Prasad Dhungana Award (2001)
Literary
Pension by Govt. of Assam (2003)
Sahitya
AkademiProg. From My Window (2007)
Parijat
Miteri Samman (2007)
Abhi-Jaman
Smiti Award (2008)
Phulchand
Khandelwal Award (2009)
Mahakavi
Devkota Satabdi Samman (2010)
Lalman
Sancharani Award (2010)
Pravina
Saikia Sahitya Award (2011)
Bhanu
Samman (2011)
Sahitya AkademiTranslation Award (2012)
Sahitya
Akademi Prog.Meet the Author(2015)
Sahitya
Akademi Main Award (2016)
Gita Upadhyaya remained bachelorette
and led her life independently. She opposes all types of superstitions and
advocates on behalf of freedom irrespective of sex. There are many dimensions
of her personality which need intense study and evaluation.
She deserves wider
recognition and exposure in the national as well as international arena.
