TEZPUR, April 30 � Rich tributes were paid to the first matriculate Mising woman and freedom fighter, Parvati Doley, who passed away at her Galigaon residence in Jonai due to old-age ailments around 6.30 pm on April 26. She was 96.
Parvati Doley participated in the country�s freedom struggle as a student. She hailed from a remote village, Tagad (Modarguri), under the Dhakuakhana subdivision of Lakhimpur district. She was the first girl from the Mising community to walk eight kilometres every day to attend her classes at the All Assam Miri High School, Janji, near Dhakuakhana. Under unfavourable circumstances, she successfully completed her matriculation in 1947 from the same school under the Calcutta University.
As the news of her matriculation spread, the then Chief Minister of Assam offered her a job in Shillong, the then capital of Assam. But Parvati opted for parenthood. After the demise of her husband, she had to raise her children on her own.
However, Parvati continued her studies in Sivasagar and Jorhat. She played a pioneering role in the establishment of the first MV school at Laimekuri, Tako Gitung MV School (now christened Laimekuri Higher Secondary School). She also became a member and later the chairperson of the Dhemaji Education Board that exercised the power to appoint primary school teachers.
Leaving her minor children at home, Parvati conducted awareness campaigns to champion the cause of quality education in the villages of Jonai area. In recognition of her contributions, she was invited to attend the Republic Day celebrations of the country in 1971. She was also given the offer to contest the Assembly election from the Jonai constituency, which she declined.
Parvati leaves behind three sons, two daughters and a host of relatives and admirers.