Manikee Bordoloi is a compassionate women, who is always ready
to offer helping hand to one all. When people asked about her
date of birth she replied humorously-�I was born on an
auspicious moment about 7 decades ago."
Mrs. Bordoloi is the youngest one among the eight children of
late Bholanath Das and Late Bogimai Das of Amulapatty, Nagaon.
She was born in 1924. She has two elder brothers and five
sisters. All of them are very laborious. They are all expert
in weaving, tailoring, embroidery, cooking and many others
fields. Late Bogimai Das, the mother of Manikee Bordoloi was
an expert weaver and she helped in running her family
smoothly by selling muga clothes woven by herself. It must be
noted that Mainkee Bordoloi is a capable daughter of late
Bogimai Das. She is an expert weaver , spinner and planter and
received many prizes. Her father was a Mohorar. Inspite of his
busy working life, he could manage to make his home an ideal
one.
Form childhood Mrs.Bordoloi received religious education from
her parents. In her words- �Though my father was a Mohorar, he
also tended a lot of cows successfully. He used to get up
early in the morning, cleaned the cowshed, fed the cows and
had his breakfast after the morning prayer.The image of her
father which remained alive in her mind attracted her towards
God. She actually received a very good education from an
honest father, who had ultimately influenced her to become a
pious lady.
Education and beginning of working life:
Manikee Bordoloi got enrolled herself in Nagoan College for
further study after her matriculation from Calcutta University
in 1943. The Nagoan College established by late Deban Borah,
was at a very initial stage. Women education was very poor
before 70s. There were only 10 girl students in that college.
She became nostalgic when she remembered late Usha Borthakur,
Head Mistress of her girls high school, who inspired her in
the sphere of education, health, sports etc. Her formal
education came to an end after successful completion of her
I.A. course.
Mrs. Manikee Bordoloi did not confine herself only to formal
education. She was also involved in many co-curricular
activities like � music, dance, acting etc. She is an
acknowledge actress and acted in many popular acts like �
Othello, Bobrubahon, Arjun which she performed in different
stages. She is also an expert bihu dancer. When her youngest
son Mr. Pankaj Bordoloi, a radio artist and Mrs. Dipali
Bordoloi (one of her daughters in law) used to sing songs,
Manikee Bordoloi also performed bihu dance in the same stage
and received lots of applaud and appreciation from the
audience.
She joined in Nagoan school as a teacher while she was
perusing I.A. course. She could ably manage both her teaching
and study together. It is also worth mentioning here that Mrs.
Bordoloi suspended from her job due to her participation in
the non-co-operation movement led by Mahatma Gandhi. But she
was never deviated from her ambition. Her determination
towards work can be compared with the following stanza:
�Mukhat amar jibonar bani
Sakut sristir dhal
Hator muthit dhanso gorhoner
Ashar bishal dol.�
(Dr.Birendra Kr. Bhattacharjya)
Married life and later part of working life:
Love blossomed in her life when Manikee met Mr Horendra Nath
Bordoloi of Sonari gaon, Koliabor, She got attracted towards
MrBordoloi due to his personality. As a result she got married
with him as per social norms. Mr. Bordoloi was an employee of
Kathalguri T.E. Sontpur district.
Though Mrs. Bordoloi regined from Nagoan school immediately
after her marriage, but she did not give up her teaching life.
In the month of Decmber 1961, she joined in Bindukuri M.E.
School as teacher. Within a short period Bindukuri school got
promoted to High English School from Middle English School
with the co-operation and initiative of the people of
Bindukuri area and teacher like Manikee Bordoloi. She was an
inspiration for the students of Bindukuri School. Under her
guidance, the students of the school participated in the
school tournament and got prizes too.
Mrs. Manikee Bordoloi is the mother of three sons and four
daughters. All four daughters got married to well competent
persons. Now, she has a very juicy and mirthful family with
her husband, sons, tree well qualified daughters in law,
grandsons and grand �daughters.
She does not support single child family. According to her,
the notion �Small family is a happy family� propagated by
social welfare dept. is baseless and detrimental to the social
process. Because, most of the families are now having single
child and they are quite ignorant about the love and affection
of their brothers and sisters. They always become selfish and
self �centered.
After long years of her service as a teacher, Mrs. Manikee
Bordoloi retired from Bindukuri high school in 1982. With
this, her service life came to an end. Now she is a permanent
resident of Gopinath Bordoloi Nagor, Tezpur.
Social life:
Mrs. Manikee Bordoloi is also associated with different
organizations of Sonitpur and more particularly Tezpur. She is
a life member of �Sodou Asom Lekhika Sarmaroh Samittee� and
now she is the Vice President of �Sodou Asom Lekhika Sarmaroh
Samittee�, Tezpur Sakha. She is also an adviser of Sodou Asom
Lekhika Sarmaroh Samittee of Tezpur District Council. Mrs,
Manikee Bordoloi is popularly known as Manikee jethai among
the �Kanyapur Moina Parijat�. She is also indirectly
associated with different women organizations and present she
is the president of Sri Monoto Sankar Sangha of Tezpur Mahila
Sakha. She takes active part in the regular Nam-Kirtan
(Prayer) of local Namghars with her neighbours of Gopinath
Bordoloi Nagar, Majgaon, Darrang college road etc. she always
motivates and inspires the students to take the pleasure of
social life through music, dance, sports or any other cultural
activities.
Mrs. Manokee Bordoloi is always grateful to Mrs. Kamala Baurah
of Darang College Road, who actually introduced her with
social life. Her association with different organizations
inspired Mrs. Manikee Bordoloi to come to the field of
literature. She was able to enter the Assamese poetic world as
a new poet by composing a few poem with in a short period at a
matured age.
Mrs. Manikee Bordoloi is also a very good orator. Her brief
and insightful lecture is very popular among the people.
It has already been mentioned that Mrs.Manikee Bordoloi is a
good bihu dancer.She brought numerous admires from the
audience by performing bihu dance in different cultural
functions. Her body is still strong and no disease can catch
immediately, she feels that it is just because of her regular
practice of dance at one point of time.
According to Bordoloi, social life is very important for every
individual. But multi-faced social life has been degenerating
and become grip les. Therefore, it is the responsibility of
the literary group to take necessary steps prevention of moral
degradation of the society. She has also clearly expressed
this feeling in her book Antarg. Man is a social
animal. She believes that social bouding is the key to make
the country united. Mrs. Manikee Bordoli has been working for
unity and integrity through out her life, which she has
expressed through her different articles published in book
Antorag.
She likes to take calculative steps in her approach and never
accepts any defeat in executions.
She always prefers to walk rather than traveling by vehicle in
manageable distance. She used to get first prizes in �Running
Competition� during her school life always.
Spiritual Life:
�Hei Krishna tumi matra saitnya swarup Nitya
Satya sudha Jnaan Akhondita
Aur jetek etu tumar Binod rup
Sorasor mayare kolpita�
Mrs. Manikee Bordoloi is strong follower of Lord Krishna. She
is a dedicated spirit with a deep love of lord Krishna.
She has deep quest of religious truth and believes that lack
of tolerance, sympathy and respect for self and other religion
are the root causes of social turmoil. According to her, by
the purification and illumination of the soul, man can attain
perfection, Man derives his immense significance from being
the medium of God-realization. She worshipped God regularly.
She is also an active member of Sri Monta Sankar Sangha and
always takes part in the sessions of Sankar Sangha . She
believes �God is with him, who has nobody with him�.
Literary Life:
Women are creative by nature. Every individual is born with
talents. Women are also not an exception. But due to lack of
opportunity, proper education, courage, lack of financial
support they fail to express themselves.
Mrs. Manikee Bordoloi has emerged as a new writer at a very
matured age due to the motivation and inspiration of Sodou
Asom Lekhika Somaruh Samittee. She wrote three books namely
Akashi, Biyanam and Antarag. She also composed many poems
which are published by Sodou Asom Mahila Kabi Somodal�. The
poetic talent of Mrs. Bordoloi is very much evident in her
book Akashi.Another book �Biyanam� which are very popular
among Assamese society.
Manikee Bordoloi is a great patriot. She nicely depicted her
patriotism and respect for old culture and heritage in her
poems published in her book Kabita Samodal. She is pained to
witness the debasement, degradation and demoralization in the
present society. She lamented for this in her poems thus �Jan
Zen Uri Uri Santir Melaloi Aru Zen nahu ghuri mur eai patit
desoloi�.
Antarag is a compilation of eight thought- provoking articles
of Mrs. Manikee Bordoloi. Writer Bordoloi has nicely explained
the duty of women , position and status of women in the
society through her articles� Women and Women education,
Status of Women in Married Life, Attitude of husband and the
wife in managing family life, Role of Women in Maintaining
Peace and Discipline and its Impact on Children , Ideal Women
Draupadi etc.
According to Mrs. Manikee Bordoloi women is the steering wheel
of her family. Indecent women are like smell � less flowers.
Educated women are undoubtedly blessings for the society.
She stated that most of the people have apathy towards the
religion and culture today. Her concept about women education
is really praise-worthy. According to her women education
means the education which enables women to develop physically,
mentally, ethically and spiritually and makes her a good
citizen.
Philosophy of Life:
Mrs. Manikee Bordoloi has a deep faith in Bhogowat. Her
personality always reflects in her neat and clean dress,
gentle walk. She is a good home maker, friendly mother, weaver
and also a good dancer.
`Her notion of handloom is similar to the notion of Hirawati
Gohain Baruah of 18th century.
�Jibanar Logori Tantasl Durpati
Sanosaror Logori tant
Tantoke Nobole thakibo numaru
Go-mon nopore sant
Tantoke boute bhat erisilu
Nabandhu mukoli suli
Logori spte nokoru dhemali
Gamusa nulabo buli
Rup johi jai nathake sadai
Nathake somane somane bhuk
Provur saranot ayehe minoti
Tante zen nere muk.�
Mrs. Manikee Bordoloi is a very simple women. Therefore, her
compositions are also very easy to understand. She is really
an inspiration for all. Age for her never been a constraint
and still Manikee Bordoloi is leading an energetic and
fruitful life.
