GOALPARA, March 2 � A solemn function to honour and to pay tribute to Bandana Choudhury, whose immense contributions to the community have made many lives richer, was organised by the All India Democratic Women�s Association (AIDWA), Goalpara at the Baladmari Shahbagan LP School on Sunday. Bandana Choudhury passed away on February 13.
The district secretary of the AIDWA, Dr Mira Devi while explaining the objectives of the meeting said that late Bandana Choudhury was a protagonist of women�s education and empowerment. She worked as a teacher to retire as the headmistress of Goalpara High School, which was eventually provincialised in 1995. She took up the teaching job to serve the people and the community, especially those belonging to the poorer and backward sections, she said.
State secretary, AIDWA Madhuri Devi spoke of her association with the late comrade where she mentioned that she was fortunate to be a part of the function for paying tribute to a person who worked selflessly for the community and particularly for uplifting women economically as well as educationally.
Social activist Noni Das recalled how late Bandana Choudhury had played a very active role in fighting witch hunting and superstitious beliefs by enlightening and educating the people, especially those belonging to the Rabha community in the Goraimari and Kuruwabhasa areas. He went on to say that such was her influence over the poor and the downtrodden that till now not a single incident of witch hunting has been reported from these areas. He also urged all those present to follow her principles and ideals as a mark of respect.
Prof Ratan Bhattacharya of Goalpara College paying glowing tributes recounted the activities of late Choudhury and cited instances as to how he was influenced and drawn to her by her deeds of serving and helping the needy and poor people in distress during the floods irrespective of their religious affiliations.
The eldest son of late Bandana Choudhury, Prof Ranjit Choudhury enlightened the gathering that even though his late mother was born in a very conservative family in Pokuwa village of Nalbari district, but her interest in education and zeal for logical thinking made her the first woman to achieve graduate degree from her area despite all the hardship she had to endure. As an affable and loving person, she was easily accessible and the best way to remember and revere her is to inculcate her principles into our lives and carry on with the community works she highly espoused. The meeting was presided over by Kawali Rabha. Many people including senior journalist Dilip Sarma, Rahima Khatun spoke and paid tributes to late Choudhury. A minute�s silence was also observed for late Choudhury and people from all walks of life attended the function to pay their homage to their beloved mentor, teacher, friend etc.
