Guwahati News Desk: The 75-year old eminent author, poet and feminist icon Kamla Bhasin, passed away after succumbing to cancer.
As per the reports, she passed away at 3 am on Saturday, after being diagnosed with cancer a few months ago.
The news of her demise was shared by activist Kavita Srivastava through a Twitter post that read, “Kamla Bhasin, our dear friend, passed away around 3am today 25th Sept. This is a big setback for the women’s movement in India and the South Asian region. She celebrated life whatever the adversity. Kamla you will always live in our hearts. In Sisterhood, which is in deep grief.”
On her demise, Prashant Bhushan tweeted, “Kamla Bhasin was not only a women’s rights activist, but also a philanthropist who set up and helped setting up many fine public Interest institutions like Jagori in HP (Himachal Pradesh) and School for Democracy in Rajasthan. She will be missed by many. May her soul rest in peace.”
Kamla Bhasin who was born on April 24, 1946, focused on gender, education and human development. She is best known for her work with Sangat-A Feminist Network and her poem ‘Kyunki main ladki hoon, mujhe padhna hai’. Her books and booklets have been translated into almost 30 languages. Some of her other important writings include Borders & Boundaries: Women in India’s Partition, Understanding Gender, and What Is Patriarchy?
Bhasin strongly rejected the notion that feminism is a Western concept, and emphasized that Indian feminism had its own set of struggles. She maintained that feminism was more of a battle between ideologies rather than men and women.
Hence, with the news of her death the entire nation has been showing their disbelief, love and gratefulness towards the existence of such a motivational human being and primarily, for inspiring women not only in India, but all around the globe to do better, strive for the fulfillment of their goals and to never give up before the patriarchal norms and society.
