Chandraprabha Saikia

From WikiAssam

Chandraprabha Saikia (Sondroprobhaa Xoikiaa)was born on the 16th of March, 1901 in the Village of Doixingori in the Bojaali area of Kamrup District. Her parents were Ratiram Majumdar (Rotiraam Mojumdaar) and Gangapriya (Gongaapriyaa). At a time when women were forbidden from going to school, it is remarkable that she Chandraprabha and her siste were able to atend a neighborhood elementary school seeking education. Chandraprabha graduated from elementary school in 1911 and got herself admitted to the Koithaalmaari M.V. (Middle Vernacular) School quite a distance away. Chandraprabha was motivated to fight against childhood marriages for girls that were common at that time. Although she was married early to following tradition, she left her husband's home and came back to her parents to pursue her education. At the young age of 13, she was able to pursuade elders to establish an elementary school in the Village of Okoyaa, two miles from her home, so that young girls could get an education and were not forced to marry early.

When Chandraprabha and her sister were at the Koithaalmaari School, the local School Inspector Nilakanta Barua was extremely impressed by their educational achievement and brilliance of mind and arranged for the two girls to studying at the then very well-known Nagaon Mission School on full scholarship. Chandraprabha noticed that the authorities at the Mission School were busy proselytizing and tried to convince the young boys and girls to convert to Christianity. Once when a poor Hindu resident girl student rebuffed the recommendation to accept Christianity, the School Superitendent banished her from the main dormitories to the school warehouse. Miss Long also made derogatory racial comments. This enraged the young Chandraprabha so much that she threatened to organize the students into a general strike against the school. She also argued vociferously that it was unacceptable that a Western lady teacher who came to Assam to teach children would make such racial comments. The Chandraprabha's arguments were so powerful and her organizational abilities so powerful that finally the School Superintendent apologized to the students and also brought the banished girl back to the residence halls.

After getting educated as a teacher from the Nagaon Mission School, Chandraprabha founded an elementary school in Nagaon. Afterwards, she moved to Tezpur to become the Headmistress of a newly established M.V. School. She was allowed to live inthe household of the famous Agarwallas of Tezpur. She became friends with Jyotiprasad Agarwalla and Jyotiprasad's mother Kironmoyi becamer her local guardian. While in Tezpur, she also came to know several noted individuals who were agitating for India's Independence from the British. These included Omeo Kumar Das, Lakshmidhar Sarma, Chandranath Samrma and others. In 1920, she was chosen to lead the women volunteers and participants during the Chhatra Sanmilan (Saatro Xonmilon; All Assam Student Conference). She gave a speech in front of a huge gathering of young people. According to historians, Chandraprabha is the first Assamese woman to have given a public speech in front of a large formal gathering.

Chandraprabha fell in love with a young and promising writer from Tezpur by the name Dandinath Kalita. They got married at a temple without the blessings of the Kalita family. The Kalita family would not accept her into its home because she was of a lower caste. Chandraprabha became pregnant and because she was refused entry into her in-laws house, she moved back to the house of her parents in Doixingori. Her son Atul was born in Doixingori on the 13th of August, 1923. Chandrprabha promised herself that she would raise her son alone and get him established in society that spurned her. Later in life, Atul had become a member (MLA) of the Assam Legislative Assembly in 1972. Dandinath Kalita, the father supported the family from a distance by writing to them regularly and by sending money. Atul saw his father for the first time after he graduated from high school.

Chandraprabha possibly was the first Assamese woman to ride a bicycle and go wherever she needed. She had a teaching job in Bojaali and went to work on her bicycle. She was roundly criticized for such un-womanly behavior. She took all responsibilities for her extended household. She sent her younger sister Rajaniprabha to study medicine in Calcutta. Rajaniprabha was the first Assamese female physician. Chandraprabha also started writing poems and novels exposing the cruel nature of casteism and racism. Her poems and novels became popular.

In 1921, Chandraprabha met Mahatma Gandhi when he visited Tezpur. After this encounter with Mahatma Gandhi, she became an ardent supporter and a leader of the movement for independence from the British. She started wearing cotton (khoddor) clothing. In 1925, in the Axom Xahitya Xabha Meeting held under the presidentship of Rajanikanta Bordoloi, Chandraprabha was the Special Guest. She sat on the podium with her young son in her lap in the midst of all the male dignitaries. It was an unsual sight in Assam of that era. In this meeting she gave an extremely eloquent speech in support of women's rights.

Chandraprabha left her job and dedicated her job to the upliftment of women in Assam. In 1927, she founded the "Assam State Womens Conference" (Oxom Praadexik Mohilaa Xomiti). The mission of this organization was to promote education of women and fight for the rights of women. She was the General Secretary of this organization for 37 years from 1926 to 1963. She becamme the President of this organization in 1963 and presided for 6 years.

During this time, Chandraprabha was also a leader in the movement for independence of India. She was jailed by the British for her activities in 1930 and 1942.

Chandraprabha continued to write when she could find time from the many activities in which she was involved. Her books include "Pitri-Bhithaa" (1937), "Konthomaalaa", "Oporaajitaa", "Xex Aashroy", and "Mohaatmaa Gaandhir Xex Kothaa" (translation in 3 volumes). She was the editor of the magazine "Obhijaatri" published by the Oxom Mohilaa Xomiti from 1947. She also wrote a large number of articles in many Assamese newspapers and magazines.

In 1972, Chandraprabha was given the title of "Podmosri" by the Government of India.

Chandraprabha Saikia passed away on the 16th of March, 1972.

Source:

Bharali, Hemanta Kumar. "Ehejaar Bosoror Exo Goraaki Oxomiyaa", Chitralekha Publications, Guwahati, Assam, 2001.