Kiran Bala Bora

Kiran Bala Bora
কিৰণ বালা বড়া
Born	1904 (1904) North Haiborgaon, Nagaon, Assam, India
Died	January 1993 (aged 88–89) Panigaon Choiali, Nagaon, Assam, India
Occupation	Freedom Fighter, Social Activist
Years active	1919–1947
Known for	Social Reformer
Spouse(s)	Late Sanat Ram Bora
Children	6
Parents	Kamal Chandra Pandit (father) Saroj Aidew (mother)

Kiran Bala Bora (Assamese: কিৰণ বালা বড়া ; 1904 - 8 January 1993) was a freedom fighter and social activist from Assam, India. She is known for her participation in the civil disobedience movements of the 1930s and 1940s, which contributed to the independence of India.

Early life

Kiran Bala Bora was born in 1904 in the village of North Haiborgaon in the Nagaon district of Assam to Kamal Chandra Pandit and Saroj Aidew. Kamal Chandra Pandit, her father, was a school teacher. Kiran studied in school till the 3rd standard despite of the prevalent restrictions on sending women to school in Indian society at the time. At an early age, she was married to Saki Ram Laskar of Paroli Guri, Kampur, Nagaon. She lost her husband soon after they married. Kamal Chandra then brought Kiran back home along with Kiran's young daughter. It was during her teen years that she gained interest in the revolutionary movements of the country.

Contribution to India's Freedom Movement

The 1920s

The summer of 1920 saw the resurgence of the idea that India should gain independence from British rule, especially after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Led by Gandhi, hundreds of people participated in non-violent protests across India. Kiran started involving herself in the activities of the movement and gradually devoted all her time to it. She fundraised to help congress gain momentum in the northeastern part of India. She also worked alongside leaders like Purna Chandra Sharma, Mahidhar Bora, Haladhar Bhuyan, & Devakanta Baruah. During this time, she met Chandraprava Saikiani, a writer, social reformer, and freedom fighter from Assam. Kiran established a close relationship with her and worked for social causes under her direction.

Kiran Bala Bora boycotted the use of foreign goods, one of the objectives of the Non-cooperation movement. During one protest, she burnt valuable foreign goods from her own house. This led others to do the same. Instead of buying clothes manufactured in Europe, she started spinning cotton and making her own cloth.

She also protested against the use of narcotic substances such as opium and bhang.

In 1929, the Lahore Congress resolved to celebrate 26 January 1930, as purna swaraaj (or Complete Independence) day. Accordingly, more than 400 women in Koliabor, led in part by Kiran Bala, joined in the celebrations, in defiance of the British-Indian government. Police stopped the women from participating, and many were allegedly beaten up.

The 1930s

Kiran was arrested by the British-Indian government for violation of laws several times. She fell severely ill on 7 February 1931 when she was in jail and was released after 4 months. In 1932, she was transferred to Shillong Jail, where she lived in dire conditions.

During this time, Kiran met Ambika Kakati Aidew, another freedom fighter from Assam. Ambika's daughter, Jagyashini Kakati Aidew, had passed and Ambika proposed Kiran to marry her son-in-law, Sanat Ram Bora. Kiran's father accepted Ambika's proposal and remarried his daughter while she was still involved in the freedom movement.

Sanat Ram Bora had five young children from his previous wife and lived in a joint family. Also, being the founder secretary of a newly established spiritual/religious Srimanta Sankaradeva Sangha (Sankardev Community), his house was frequented by devotees and visitors who were interested to learn about the culture of this Sangha. Kiran handled the responsibility of her joint family, including the children from Sanat's first marriage. She also served the devotees. Her husband granted her full independence and supported her in her political life.

In the 1930s, Gandhi had started the Civil Disobedience Movement to end the monopoly by British on salt. Kiran went door0to-door to explain the movement to the villagers of Polaxoni (the place where her spouse Sanat Ram Bora lived), gathering people and continued her activities of collecting food and other relief items.

She also preached about the country's independence to the devotees who would come to attend the Sangha at her husband's house.

She also spread awareness about the social problems related to women in India, like child marriage, Sati, education.

The 1940's

Kiran became a mother of 5 more children during this time.

In 1942, the Quit India Movement was announced, and the British were asked to leave the country. "Do or Die" became the slogan of the movement. In response, the British colonial government initiated a crackdown on the movement, arresting tens of thousands of independence activists and keeping most of them imprisoned until 1945.

Kiran Bora protested these events, bearing lathi charges and other actions by the police. She also went into hiding from the police. She fought till India was granted independence.

After independence

Kiran Bala Bora, freedom fighter of Indian Freedom movement

India gained independence on 15 August 1947. Later in her life, Kiran tended to her children.

She has been honored with freedom fighters pensions by both state and central governments of India.

Kiran died on 8 January 1993. She remained an active Srimanta Sankaradeva Sangha worker and devotee until her death.

See also

• Indian independence movement
• List of Indian independence activists
• Srimanta Sankaradeva Sangha