GOLAKGANJ, Feb 25 � Nihar Bala Barua�s daredevilness in hunting six tigers at a very young age had made her a centre of attraction. Sister of famous film director, the legendary Pramathesh Barua and a family member of Pratima Barua Pandey, this tiger hunting woman has many other memorable performances worth mentioning. She spent much time in the deep forests not only hunting tigers and animals but also collecting and preserving many valuable natural antique items which can hardly be seen or found nowadays.
Born in 1905, Nihar Bala Barua got married to Mukunda Narayan Baruah at the age of 11. This strong and determined lady was not only passionate about tigers and forests but proved to be an equally good housewife as well. For hunting, the royal family members used to move around with 40 elephants.
Her contribution for the education of women is quite remarkable. The role of Gauripur�s Pratap Chandra Institution in the field of women literacy is exemplary and Nihar Bala Barua nurtured the institution. Before 1940, girls� education was limited to the ME level and there was no way a girl could study further. Nihar Bala�s efforts paved the path for higher education of the girls.
Nihar Bala Barua gathered knowledge about forests from her father Raja Prabhat Chandra Barua, who was also a founder of Gauripur PC Institution. To get up on the elephant she used to take the support of the ears and the trunk of the standing elephant. During those days the folk songs sung by the lower class people were scorned upon by the royal family but Nihar Bala Barua played a vital role in establishing those songs among the general people. She helped to spread those folktales, songs and dances so that those could be performed by each and every community. She set up a museum on the premises of her residence by preserving her life-time collections of antiques. In 2003, she passed away at her own residence.
Prabir Barua, a member of the royal family, told this correspondent that the contributions of the great Nihar Bala Barua should always remain embedded in the hearts of the people and for this steps must be taken by one and all.
