 | Thisbiography of a living personneeds additionalcitations forverification. Please help by addingreliable sources.Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced orpoorly sourcedmust be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentiallylibelous. Find sources: "Eli Ahmed" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(July 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Eli Ahmed | |
|---|---|
 Eli Ahmed at her residence | |
| Born | (1934-03-14)14 March 1934 (age 91) |
| Occupations | Writer, Lyricist, Columnist, Scriptwriter |
| Awards | Padma Shri (2017) |
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 thePadma Shri by theGovernment of India in 2017 for her contribution to literature and education.[1]
Eli Ahmed was born in an aristocratic family inNazira. 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 bookLuit, Barak and Islam.Eli is known by different names to many.Nalinibala Devi called her Pokhila (butterfly),Nirmal Prabha Bordoloi calls her Beli (sun), filmmakerBrajen Barua called her Geet (song) andBhupen Hazarika calls her Rong (colour). And friends call her Jui or fire.[2]
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 namedRong Chora and performed cultural programmes in different parts of Assam. Her first musical featureBhagyor Chokori Ghure , was performed in the Nazira session of theAsam Sahitya Sabha in 1962.
She came to Guwahati to appear for an interview at theBalak Sewika Prashikshan Kendra under the department of social welfare in 1965.
She made her mark as a lyricist with Dwipen Barua's famous songPhool Phool Phool in Brajen Barua's famous filmDr. Bezbaruah. She has written lyrics for popular films like:
She also wrote lyrics for the television serials Gadhuli, Sahual and Apabad.
She has been the scriptwriter for several Assamese films like
She has scripted five documentary films —
She was the storywriter of films like
She was the scriptwriter, art director and costume designer for many of these films.She has to her credit several successful dramas —
Some of her books are
She is a life member of theAssam Sahitya Sabha and winner of the national literary prize on adult education for her bookBonphool in 1976. She also got Dr.Nirmal Prabha Bordoloi Award in 2011[3] andAmalprava Das Award in 2013[4] for her contributions to the field of literature.
She was awarded thePadma Shri by theGovernment of India in 2017 for her contribution to literature and education.