Kiran Bala Bora Made Haiborgaon of Nagaon the Second 'Kanthapura'

"Protest beyond the law is not a departure from democracy; it is absolutely essential to it."-wrote Howard Zinn. This happened fictionally in Raja Rao's Kanthapura. But in Haiborgaon in the Nagaon District of Assam this happened for real. A whole village was swayed by Gandhiji's influence in Raja Rao's novel. But at Haiborgaon everything happened because of one fierce and spirited teenage girl- 'The Saint Joan of Nagaon'; Kiran Bala Bora. Her feisty and energetic vibes motivated the entire village and district to follow Gandhiji and participate in the historic Civil Disobedience Movement.

Kiran Bala is known for her fundraising initiatives that were envisaged to help the Indian National Congress gain momentum in the northeastern part of India. She had worked alongside leaders like Purna Chandra Sharma, Mahidhar Bora, Haladhar Bhuyan, and Devakanta Baruah. After meeting Chandraprava Saikiani, an iconic writer, social reformer and freedom fighter from Assam, Kiran established a close relationship with her and worked for social causes too under her direction. She is particularly hailed for her yeoman efforts in terms of spreading awareness about the social problems related to women in India, like child marriage, sati, restrictions and prohibitions regarding education etc.

Kiran Bala was born to Kamal Chandra Pandit and Saroj Aidew in 1904. Despite being a daughter of a school teacher and growing up in an enlightened ambience, she was not allowed to study beyond the third standard. At an early age, she was married to Saki Ram Laskar of Paroli Guri who left her as a widow after a short time. Kamal Chandra then brought Kiran back home along with her young daughter.

Incidentally, Kiran was arrested several times by the British-Indian Government for violation of laws. She fell severely ill on 7 February 1931 when she was in jail and was released after four 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 away and Ambika asked 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. As he was the founder secretary of the (then) 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 particular Sangha. Kiran handled the responsibility of her joint family, including the children from Sanat's first marriage with grace and elan. She also served the devotees. Her husband in turn granted her full independence and supported her in her political life.

Kiran Bala Bora died on 8 January 1993. She remained an active Srimanta Sankaradeva Sangha worker and devotee until her death. She has been honoured with freedom fighters pension by both the state and central governments of India.

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