Birubala Rabha, 70, a well-known activist for human rights and recipient of the prestigious Padma Shri award, breathed her last this morning at approximately 9:23 am. She was undergoing treatment at the State Cancer Institute in Guwahati, where she dedicated her life to combatting the issue of witch-hunting.
The Assam Government had committed to covering her medical expenses as a gesture of gratitude for her significant contributions to society. The determination was reached by Assam Cabinet Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary following his visit to the State Cancer Institute to assess her condition last Saturday.
Rabha has been undergoing treatment at the institute since April 22, 2024, battling stage three cancer at an advanced stage.
Despite initial signs of improvement when Rabha was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on May 4, her condition deteriorated later, resulting in her passing today.
Birubala Rabha’s legacy extends far beyond her battle with cancer. As a devoted activist, she spearheaded extensive campaigns against witch-hunting and played a pivotal role in the enactment of the Prevention of and Protection from Witch Hunting Act, 2015, by the Assam Government.
Through her organization, Mission Birubala, she continues to enlighten society about the grave perils of witch-hunting, ensuring the continuity of her work even in her absence.
Born in 1954 in Thakurvila village, near the Meghalaya border in Assam’s Goalpara district, Rabha faced early adversity when her father passed away when she was only six years old. This compelled her to leave school and assist her mother in managing the household. At the age of fifteen, she entered into marriage with a farmer, with whom she raised three children.
Rabha garnered numerous accolades for her crusade against witch-hunting in Assam. In 2005, she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by the Northeast Network, a women’s rights organization in Assam. In 2015, Gauhati University conferred upon her an honorary Doctorate. In 2021, the Indian government honoured her social activism and advocacy by bestowing upon her the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award.
