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Travel memoir: Assamese political activist Khairun Nessa Choudhury recalls her Hajj trip
An excerpt from ‘Her Hajj Story: Travel Diaries of Women Pilgrims From Assam’, translated by Teresa Rehman.
Nilufar Majumdar, a professional cake decorator, has treasured memories of her nani (grandmother), Khairun Nessa Choudhury. She shared a special bond with her and imbibed her nani’s creative and aesthetic instincts passed down through quiet moments, observation and an affectionate and trusting relationship. Nilufar chuckles, “I was expecting my first baby and was rushed to the hospital. I was having labour pains and I was happy to see my nani by my side. She kept her hands on my forehead and urged me to calm down. Then, she told me about a poem she had written about the angst of childbirth. In the poem, she had questioned why only women bear the pain of childbirth. Men should also bear the strain of labour pain. I was amused then and later, when I read the poem, I was intrigued by her sweeping feminist ideas.”
At a later stage, when she was old and not keeping well, all of her six children and grandchildren went to see her. She was happy to see everyone taking care of her. At that time, Khairun Nessa told Nilufar about another of her poems titled, Mitthe noi sristir bedona, the pain of creation did not go in vain. “She meant that the pain of childbirth was worth it. She realised that in old age, she had so many people to take care of her because she had undergone the ordeal of labour pain,” Nilufar recalls.
There was a profound intergenerational influence of her nani on her. She was inspired to appreciate, read, enjoy and write poetry from her nani. “I used to read and recite poetry in school and college. I have read each and every poem of my grandmother. My nani’s poems were beyond ethereal and were more of an expression of contemporary realities. I used to discuss poetry with her. She had always encouraged me to pursue politics as I was a very good debater. She used to give me tips to improve my oratory skills. I was married before I could complete my undergraduate education. However, she did not stop my early marriage as she did not want to go against her son-in-law, my father. She was a real politician,” grins Nilufar.