“A fiction writer of eminence, Purobi Bormudoi’s short stories and novels have touched different spheres of human activity, its moods and moments and nature, her inspiration and love,” a statement from Williamson Magor Education Trust said. Under its aegis, the award has been honouring the literary figures of the State whose writings have embraced a wide milieu of society, culture, history and nature.

Born on May 8, 1950, Bormudoi’s penchant for writing found immediate recognition when she won the second prize in an all-Assam short story competition for her short story titled Eta Sapor Palayan (The Escape of a Serpent) while still in her late teens in 1967. Her craft as a novelist of repute came to the fore through Gajaraj, Prem Aru Banditva (Elephant, Love and Bondage) and Param Pujania (The Most Revered), both serialised in Gariyoshi.

Bormudoi was conferred the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award in 2007 for her novel Santanukulanandan. The novel fictionalises the seventh and eighth century Brahmaputra civilisation, exploring the myths and bringing alive fictional characters drawn from history. She is also the recipient of ‘Lekhika Bota’ of the Sodou Asom Lekhika Somaroh and ‘Prabina Saikia Sahitya Bota’, among others.