For the first time in the history of the nation, an ordinary housewife of rural Assam has been nominated for Noble Peace Prize ‘2005. The Swiss Peace, Switzerland in a communiqué announced that Birubala Rabha, a rural housewife in her mid fifties residing at   Thakurvila village near the Indo-Bangla border in Goalpara district, has been nominated as a possible recipient of the prize.

Along with Birubala, Neidonuo Angami, two-time president of Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA) has also been nominated.

The nomination is for ‘Project 1000 Women’. The Noble Peace Committee for the first time in its glorious history has nominated a whole group comprising 1000 women across the globe, including Birubala Rabha, the only nominee from Assam, for the prize.

The project was patronized by Swiss Commission for UNESCO. The Goalpara unit of Mahila Samata Samity had proposed the name of Rabha for the project.

Out of 2000 entries from 150 countries, 1000 names have been selected for the nomination of the final round. Altogether 97 Indian women including three women from North-East are in the list of 1000. The citation sent by Swiss Peace to Rabha acknowledged her impressive and encouraging work for peace.

The Mahila Samata Samity, which proposed her name, has said that the contribution of Birubala Rabha to wipe out the curse of superstition and witch hunt in the tribal areas of Goalpara is excellent. The society was attracted to Birubala Rabha for courage and spontaneous struggle shown by her to fight against the evil of witch hunt and other forms of violence meted out to the weaker sex, despite being an ordinary housewife. To mark the Nobel nomination of Rabha, the society has decided to felicitate her in a function to be held in Guwahati soon.

The Mahila Samata Samity is working for the upliftment and protection of women since 1999 and has so far at least 12 helpless women from being brutally killed by superstitious village mobs in the name of witch hunt. The activists of the society are spread over at least 10 states of the country including Assam. They are working to mibilise public opinion and education oriented programmes against this social evil.

Whether NE women win the coveted prize or not, they have already may become the source of inspiration for many.

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