Unbowed
Ankur Bora
Often it is only when we are confronted with adversity that
our lives are transformed to reveal the radiant power and wonder of human
character. There are inspiring stories of people who have been changed by the
calamities they’ve faced, emerging stronger, wiser and more alive than they
have ever been. Their stories teach us that tragedies, when confronted with
faith, courage, and tenacity could be overcome, and that at the depth of
adversity lies the height and strength of our nobility as human being.
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| Assam Tribube , Sunday Edition , April 30th 2017 |
The story of Birubala Rabha began in 1985 after some of the
villagers branded her son, who was suffering from a mental illness, as a witch
being possessed by a fairy. Some of the villagers even tried to kill the
helpless boy. Her husband took him to a quack who said he would die in three
days. Fortunately, Birubala’s son survived and months passed without incident.
It was a life changing experience as she witnessed firsthand the fear,
ignorance and helplessness of the fellow villagers. Birubala made up her mind
to fight the evil practice of witch hunting and educate her community to break
the stranglehold of superstition and thus began a rewarding journey of
endurance, fearlessness, compassion and hope.
The history of witch hunting goes back to Middle Ages when in
Europe thousands of innocent victims, mostly women, accused of practicing black
magic, were burnt at the stake. In India, countless instances of witch hunting
have been reported from different parts of the country. In the state of Assam and North Eastern region
of India such beliefs continue to prevail even to this day, in the 21st
century, where gory murders of helpless women often take up newspaper
headlines. In a world where technology is rapidly transforming aspects of everyday
life, there is still the looming menace of superstition and barbaric crimes
committed by humans on fellow humans. The basic rights and freedoms to which
all humans are entitled never reaches the remote corners of this world that is
still shrouded in the darkest veil of evil acts of inhuman atrocities.
In Assam’s remote
countryside, the prevalence of witch hunting is closely linked to absence of
healthcare. Lack of access to hospitals and doctors nearby leads people to
treat diseases through medicines prepared by tantric or quacks who makes a
living from selling cures and conducting purification ceremonies. When the
patients are unable to recover, these medicine hawkers are quick to lay the
blame on someone else – often the most vulnerable in the village: unmarried
women, widows or elderly people. Branding as witch, these victims are
ostracized, even more dangerously, they are beaten, buried alive, or forced to
undergo horrific rituals such as being covered from head to toe with a net and
the onlookers prodding the body with sharp sticks.
Hailing from a poor family, Birubala Rabha was orphaned at
the age of six years. She could study only up to class V, she, however, she got
her bearing in cooking, embroidery, weaving and poultry rearing. Married at the
age of 16, she withstood the challenges
of raising three sons and a daughter. When things are tough, we draw upon an
amazing reserve of inner strength. Birubala confronted the villagers when her son
was called a witch, taking it all in, unbowed, unrelenting and thus she changed
the course of events herself, alone. Since than Birubala Rabha has been relentlessly
fighting against violence and thus saving dozens of innocent lives. She travels
extensively from village to village, speaks out against the evil practices, educates
and brings awareness to villagers and school children. She has brought hope to
countless victims and aroused fear in the perpetrators by making them
accountable for their actions.
Birubala Rabha is a compassionate and kind human being, a woman,
whose straight from the heart candor endears her to others. In the book, `My Half of The Sky` authored by noted
writer, columnist, journalist Indrani Raimedhi, she describes her first meeting
with Ms. Rabha. “In spite of all the
honor and adulation heaped on this feisty woman, her life remains simple, even
harsh. The day before she came to meet me in Guwahati from her village, she had
worked the whole day at a road-repairing site”. Birubala genuinely cares about
and respects other people as evidenced by those known to her. Preetom Saikia,
Commissioner and Secretary, Government of Assam offers a glowing recommendation.
“During my tenure as Districts Magistrate
of Goalpara from 2012-2014, I had the experience of associate myself with this
lady of exceptional qualities of vigor and courage.” -The present Deputy
Commissioner Goalpara Mr. J.N.V Subramanyam acknowledges her immense
contribution – “The brave effort of Smti
Birubala Rabha was successful in reducing the evil practice of Witch hunting
from the society to a great extent”.
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| Meeting with Governor of Assam |
Birubala Rabha met the honorable Governor of Assam, Sri
Banwarilal Purohit on 15th April in Raj Bhawan and submitted a memorandum to
pass the anti-witch hunting bill in Assam. Bihar was the first state in India
to pass the prevention of Witch (dayan) Practices Act of 1999. Jharkhand
followed with an Anti -Witchcraft Act in 2001. Unfortunately, there is no such
law in Assam and there is no legal measure to punish offenders. Since there is
no separate anti-witch hunting law in Assam, the accused are booked under
sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). It is often treated as a routine crime
case where the culprit is not brought to justice. At present there is a crucial need to use the
legal system to battle crime against witch hunting. Such incidents are
happening even today. We appeal to the Chief Minister of Assam, Sri Sarbananda Sonowal to take action to prevent such
diabolical incidents and pass a law that will hold the criminals accountable
with the harshest of punishments.
As educated members of society it is our duty to groom and
prepare our youth and make them aware of their social responsibilities. Life,
history, society and power cannot be understood from a single perspective; we
need multiple viewpoints to truly see the world. Birubala Rabha is a text book unto herself and we implore young men and women of Assam
and North East to go through the pages of her life and gain knowledge and
wisdom from it.
Birubala Rabha survived because the fire inside her burned
brighter than the fire around her. This is the true inspiring story of a woman
who when confronted with Life’s extreme adversities , did not cower down but
rose up to face them head on , alone, to reveal the wondrous strength of human
power and indomitable spirit. She is our
living Hero from which each and every one of us needs to be inspired and draw
strength to continue her legacy. That will be our greatest tribute to her. From caring comes courage, let’s all hold the
torch of courage by showing compassion for those marginalized section of
society and bring the light of love and protection in their lives.
