Assam: Deputy Speaker pays homage to Padma Shri Birubala Rabha

Staff Reporter

Guwahati: Dr. Numal Momin, the Deputy Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly, paid his homages to Padma Shri Birubala Rabha, who passed away on May 13 at the State Cancer Institute in Guwahati.  

Renowned human rights activist and Padma Shri awardee, Birubala Rabha, who dedicated her life to fighting against the problem of witch-hunting, passed away while receiving treatment at the State Cancer Institute in Guwahati.

The Assam Government had promised to pay for her medical treatment, showing appreciation for her important contributions to society.

The decision was made by Assam Cabinet Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary after he visited the State Cancer Institute to check on her health last Saturday.

Rabha has been in the institute since April 22, 2024, fighting advanced stage three cancer.

Birubala Rabha's impact goes beyond her battle with cancer. As a dedicated activist, she led extensive campaigns against witch-hunting and was instrumental in the Assam Government passing the Prevention of and Protection from Witch Hunting Act, 2015.

Her organization, Mission Birubala, continues to educate people about the serious risks of witch-hunting in society, ensuring that her work continues even after her death.

Rabha was born in 1954 in Thakurvila village, near the Meghalaya border in Assam's Goalpara district. Her father passed away when she was six years old, which led her to leave school and assist her mother in managing the household. She got married at the age of fifteen to a farmer, with whom she had three children.

Rabha received several awards and honors for her efforts against witch-hunting in Assam. In 2005, she was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize by the Northeast Network, a women's rights organization in Assam.

In 2015, Gauhati University awarded her an honorary Doctorate. In 2021, the Indian government recognized her social work and advocacy by awarding her the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award in India.

Also Read: Assam Governor, CM and others mourn death of Padma Shri Birubala Rabha (sentinelassam.com)

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