Bijoya Chakravarty

Bijoya Chakravarty, fondly called “Baideo”, or elder sister, in Assam, is a former teacher who went on to serve four terms as a member of Parliament and one term as a Union minister. She was named for the Padma Shri in 2021 in the field of public affairs, from Assam ^[1].

Teacher and athlete

Chakravarty was born on 7 October 1939 ^[2]. As a young woman she was known for record-breaking performances in athletics ^[2]. She taught at Mangaldai College in Assam, and as vice-president of the Assam table tennis association she encouraged sport among young people in rural areas ^[2].

Women’s and children’s groups

She was the founding general secretary of the Assam Mahila Samaroh Samity, which encouraged women to write ^[2]. As president of a district women’s body she travelled widely across the state urging women to take part in public work, and she was vice-president of Assam Maina Parijat, a well-known children’s organisation ^[2].

Prison and public office

She was jailed several times during language agitations, and spent nearly two years in prison during the Assam movement of 1979 to 1984 ^[2]. At one point she was left in the forest at Bhalopung, an area where wild elephants and tigers roamed ^[2].

She was elected to Parliament four times and served one term as a minister ^[2]. At the time of the award she was working with an NGO, Hello Ma, for children and women in distress ^[2].