Select Page

Rajaniprabha Saikia

Rajani Prabha Saikia (also known as Rajani Prabha Das) was the first Assamese woman to graduate with a Bachelor of Medicine degree.[1][2] She was among the first two Assamese women to earn an MBBS degree from Calcutta Medical College, the oldest medical college in Asia. The other recipient was Tilottama Roy Chowdhury.[3][4][5]

Early life and personal background

Rajni Prabha Saikia was born in Daishingari village in the Bajali area of present-day Barpeta district, Assam. She was originally named Rameshwari at birth. She was a member of Saikia family and her sister Chandraprabha Saikiani[6][7] was a noted social reformer and Padma Shri awardee.[8]

Career

Rajni Prabha Saikia initially held government positions in places such as Shillong and Chabua.[3] She later moved to Bengal, where she worked at a hospital associated with a cotton mill in Angos near Serampore, West Bengal.[5]

Death

Shortly after her marriage, Rajni Prabha Das experienced mental health issues and became mentally disturbed.[5] She later died due to complications arising from her mental illness in her native village of Daishingari.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Chandraprabha Saikiani: A Trailblazer for Women's Empowerment". Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. India: Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Retrieved 2025-04-25.
  2. ^ Gurucharan Gollerkeri, Renuka Raja Rao (2024). The Making of India, 1947-2022: Pivotal People, Events, and Institutions. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p. 341. ISBN 9781527561410.
  3. ^ a b c "Science in the World". Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  4. ^ Dr. Mihir Kumar Goswami (2004). Ranjit Kumar Deb Goswami (ed.). "Assamese Women in Medicine". Story Guwahati.
  5. ^ a b c Dr. Shivnath Burman. Assamese Biography Dictionary.
  6. ^ "Chandraprabha Saikiani". Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. Barpeta, Assam: Ministry of Culture, Government of India. 9 June 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  7. ^ "Chandraprabha Saikiani: The Legendary Crusader" in Assam Times, pallavibarua, 16 March 2010
  8. ^ Yamini Devi, Padmashri Chandraprabha Saikiani, the pride of Bajali, Memoir: Pathshala Girls High School, (2012), pp. 51–53