Rise of Women’s Activism in Assam: A Study of the Pre-Independence Era

The advent of American Baptist missionaries in Assam produced a very positive sociocultural environment since they tried to educate women along with their male counterparts in the region. No matter what their intentions were, it was good that they started teaching girls in Assam. Eventually it helped Assamese women in self-organization. Sevak Mahila Samiti, which was established in 1915 in Dibrugarh, was the first women’s organisation of this region. Many such women’s organisations were formed in the first part of the 20th century but they could not claim to have statewide focus. Assam Mahila Samiti was the first state-level women’s organisation established in the year 1926. The growth of modern political consciousness among the Assamese people, including women, provided inputs for the rise of women's activism in this region. The Gandhian movement also played a significant role in growing political consciousness among women, which contributed towards the organisation of women in Assam. Assamese women made their public debuts through Mahila Samiti activities simultaneously with various activities of the freedom movement, despite the pervasive patriarchal beliefs and male biases in all walks of life.