Remembering Late Yamin Hazarika, Assam's First Woman Police Officer

Guwahati: Yamin Hazarika was an inspiration for many women who desired to break the glass ceiling and step out of the shell created by patriarchy. She overcame all the obstacles that came her way and became Assam's first woman police officer, a profession that is traditionally believed to be dominated by men. In addition to serving as a police officer, Yamin was also a single mother to two children - Huma and Vikram. She, however, died an early death due to cancer on July 24, 1999.

Born in the late 1950s, Yamin was the second of five siblings. Her father, Sirajul Hussain Hazarika, served as a deputy excise commissioner in pre-independence Sylhet in Bangladesh. Her mother was Shameem Hazarika and they lived in the Lakhtokia area of Guwahati.

Yamin did her schooling in Guwahati and Shillong and later moved to Delhi for her graduation from IP College.

She later returned to Guwahati to pursue a degree in law and at the same time prepared for the Union Public Service Commission examination which she cleared twice and qualified for the Delhi Andaman Nicobar Islands Police Service in 1979.

She met her future husband, Rajeev Sagar, who was an IPS officer, during her training at Punjab Police Academy in Phillaur.

However, the marriage did not last long and the couple soon separated leaving the custody of their two children to Yamin.

Yamin was first posted as the Assistant Commissioner of Police in Chanakyapuri in Delhi. She later went on to serve as the Deputy Commissioner of Police in the Crimes Against Women division.

In the short time that she got to spend with her children, Yamin made sure that they were imbibed with excellent values.

Speaking to the media, Huma remembers, "Although she worked extremely hard, my mother was also determined to give us a balanced childhood. Despite the intense demands of her job, as a single parent, she always had time for us. She was a very hands-on mother, who kept us close. At no point did she ever neglect us. Besides, she was also a strict disciplinarian, but at the same time a very fair, kind and good-humoured person who never once raised her hand against either of us."

Yamin's son, Vikram also shared, "I wish I had more time to spend with her. After she passed away, I spoke to people who knew her. I also read about her life, and that's when I started to hear about all her wonderful qualities."

Vikram was only nine years old when his mother passed away. Though he doesn't remember much about her, he still has respect for the person that Yamin Hazarika was.

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