Guwahati, Jan 17: Fawzia Rahman, celebrated as Assam’s first radio jockey and a pioneering voice of All India Radio (AIR) Dibrugarh, passed away on January 16 at the age of 84. She was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Guwahati after suffering a brain stroke, family sources said.
Affectionately known as “Effie” to generations of listeners, Rahman was among the most recognisable and beloved voices on AIR Dibrugarh from the 1970s through the 1990s. She earned widespread acclaim for presenting Western music programmes at a time when radio was the primary window to global music for many in Assam. Her distinctive style, warm voice and effortless rapport with audiences helped her carve a unique identity, making her a household name and establishing her as the state’s first radio jockey.
Rahman received her early education at Pine Mount School in Shillong and later completed her Senior Cambridge from St Mary’s School, Shillong. Over the years, she became known not only for her polished presentation but also for her ability to connect with listeners across age groups and social backgrounds. Many credit her programmes with shaping their musical tastes and introducing Western music to a broader audience in Assam during a formative era of radio broadcasting.
Her death has evoked deep sorrow among music lovers, artists and members of the broadcasting community, who remember her as a trailblazer who elevated radio presentation in the state. She was married to the late Dr Alfred Rahman, former vice principal of Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh. She is survived by her younger daughter Fariyal Rahman and daughter-in-law Zeenat, while her elder son, Arfin Rahman, passed away in 2020.
Tributes have continued to pour in from cultural personalities and former colleagues, honouring Fawzia Rahman as a pioneering broadcaster whose contribution remains an enduring chapter in Assam’s radio history.
