Noted litterateur Indira Goswami passes away

Guwahati, Nov 29: Assamese litterateur Indira Raisom Goswami, who had taken the initiative to bring the ULFA to the negotiating table, on Tuesday passed away at a hospitaNoted Assamese writer Indira Goswami, who had been a peace broker between the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and New Delhi, died here early Tuesday after prolonged illness. She was 69.

Doctors said she died of multiple organ failure at 7.45 a.m. at the Gauhati Medical College Hospital.

Known by her pen name, Mamoni Raisom Goswami, she had been a teacher at the Department of Modern Indian Languages at Delhi University.

Winner of India's highest literary award Jnanpith, Goswami acted as a peace broker between the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and New Delhi. But she gave it up in 2005.

"Her death has created a void in the literary scene in India," Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said.

The Assam government has decided to accord her a state funeral, which is likely Wednesday.

Her body will be taken from the hospital to her residence, after which it will be kept at a public playground for fans and well wishers to pay their last tributes.l here after prolonged illness.

The condition of 69-year-old Goswami, who suffered a cerebral stroke in February last, turned critical last night and she was declared dead at 7:45 AM, Guwahati Medical College Hospital Superintendent R Talukdar said.

The Jnanpith award winning writer was taken to a hospital in New Delhi earlier this year for further treatment but was brought back here in July and was undergoing treatment at the GMCH since then. She was in a paralysed state and on ventilator support.

PTI