From our Correspondent
MANGALDAI, March 18: Octogerian pious lady Keheswari Devi, the wife of eminent freedom fighter Tankeswar Sarma of village Jolah in Tangla in Udalguri district, breathed her last at the age of 87 at a private nursing home in Guwahati on Saturday. She was suffering from prolonged ailment.
Born to the family of Be Sarma and Daiboki Devi of village Borigaon in Deomornoi area of Mangaldai as the only daughter in 1938, she got married to Tankeswar Sarma in 1948. Tankeswar Sarma, who played the key role in the freedom movement in 1921 and in 1942, was the only freedom fighter to spend the longest period in the jails of Assam as a convict. Khadi-clad Tankeswar Sarma, an ardent follower of Mahatma Gandhi, interestingly took a vow not to tie the nuptial knot till the motherland attained freedom.
With a strong desire for education, Keheswari Devi attended her classes in Dahi MV School, always walking from her paterl home and covering a distance of 8 km daily. She completed her schooling up to Class VII. Her husband, after the hard-earned independence, got deeply involved with the organizatiol activities of the Congress till his death and during this period, this pious lady extended all possible cooperation to her husband shouldering the responsibility to maintain the family affairs despite poverty. Her simple lifestyle and humble attitude with love and care was highly appreciated by the top leaders of the Congress, including the Chief Ministers who used visit them at Tangla, as well as by all sections of the society. After the demise of her husband in 1998, she was shifted to Mangaldai and spent her days with her daughter till death.
On receipt of the news of her demise, a large number of mourners rushed to her residence to offer their last respect. Mangaldai legislator Guru Jyoti Das, Circle Officer of Mangaldai Revenue Circle, Dr. Sangita Borthakur and others visited the grief-stricken family members and offered floral tribute on her body. Darrang Deputy Commissioner Ashok Kumar Barman also expressed deep shock on her demise and prayed for her eterl peace. Late Keheswari Devi has left behind eight daughters.