TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter ,
Guwahati: Yamin Hazarika, the first woman from Assam to clear the Delhi Andaman Nicobar Island Police Service (DANIPS), was remembered in a solemn occasion at Maria Public School in Guwahati on Friday.
The programme was organized by Women’s Hub, a ladies empowerment organisation, to mark the occasion of 16th year of Hazarika’s death.
It may be recalled that Yamin Hazarika, daughter of Shamim Hazarika and Shiraz Hazarika of Lakhtokia in Guwahati, cleared the UPSC exam twice, in 1978 and 1979, to qualify for the Delhi Andaman Nicobar Island Police Service (DANIPS) and had a very illustrious career, before she died at a very young age of 43 on July 24 in 1999.
Yamin Hazarika’s mother Shamim Hazarika speaking at a function in her daughter’s memory held in Guwahati on Friday. Others seen in the photograph are Huma, Yamin’s daughter; Sanjoy Hazarika, scholar journalist; Nirupama Borgohain, litterateur; and Nellie Ahmed Tanweer, Founder Trustee, Maria’s Public School, Guwahati.
Exactly 16 years after her death, Women’s Hub, a ladies empowerment organisation, presented the Yamin Hazarika Memorial ‘Woman of Substance Award’ to journalist and author Indrani Rai Medhi.
Raimedhi, who has been in journalism for over two and a half decades and authored a number of books, announced that her next book will be dedicated in memory of Yamin Hazarika.
The evening’s function began with Sarah Hilaly, Professor of History, Rajiv Gandhi University, Arunachal Pradesh moderating a panel discussion participated in by Amina Ahmed (Lecturer, Psychiatric Nursing), Nahid Islam (Consultant Psychiatrist), Ambalika Senapati (Advocate and Woman Activist), Sriparna Barua (Entrepreneurship Motivator), Fardina Hussain (Professor, English, Gauhati University) and Kismat Bano (Theatre Artiste).
Each participant shared her professional experience with the audience and dealt with the problems faced by women in these professions.
Another renowned journalist of Assam and presently Professor of NE Studies at Jamia Milia, New Delhi Sanjoy Hazarika recalled his association with Yamin while in New Delhi and mentioned about her ‘great sense of humour and adventure’.
“We remembered a remarkable person, Yamin, and her energy and enthusiasm as well as depth of struggles. The award is well deserved and one that will honour more women of substance in the future,” said Hazarika, adding, “I thank Nellie Rehman Ahmed and Teresa Rehman for having me over and organizing a fine programme and the presence of her children, Huma and Zubin, was wonderful.”
Dr Sarah Hilaly (4th from L), Professor of History, Rajiv Gandhi University, Arunachal Pradesh is seen moderating a panel discussion participated in by eminent professional women of Guwahati on the occasion Yamin Hazarika Memorial Award function in the city on Friday.
Eminent Assamese litterateur Nirupama Borgohain regretted that the people of Assam know little about this brave heart daughter of Assam. She announced that her forthcoming columns in several newspapers would bring out different aspects of Yamin’s chequered career.
Besides Yamin’s mother Shamim Hazarika, sister Yasmin Hazarika, her son Zubin and daughter Huma were also present on the occasion. Dhrubajyoti Saikia, Vice Chancellor of Cotton College University, Guwahati, who was a school mate of Yamin and later a contemporary in Delhi, remembered her smile which he said “was present even in the face of the toughest of situations”.
The memorial event also brought to the fore the organising ability and skill of the women who constitute the ‘Women’s Hub’. The event was conceptualised by journalist Teresa Rehman, compeered by Tinat Atifa Masood and hosted by Nellie Ahmed Tanweer, Founder Trustee of Maria Public School and her team.