Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: Gita Upadhyay died Monday night at her home in Chandmari, Tezpur. She was 87. The founder president of the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (BGP) Assam State Committee passed away at 9:10 pm from age-related illness. A decorated author and educator, she leaves behind a history of service.
A delegation led by Assam State Working President Thandi Newar honored her Tuesday. Leaders draped the organization flag over her casket. The group observed a minute of silence for the pioneer. She was born February 14, 1939, at Gangmouthan. She descended from freedom fighter Babu Chabilal Upadhyaya.
Upadhyay broke barriers early. She was the first Gorkha woman from Assam to earn a postgraduate degree. She later led the Political Science department at Sibsagar College. Her writing earned national acclaim. She won the 2012 Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize for her version of the Assamese classic Karengor Ligiri. In 2016, she claimed the Sahitya Akademi Award for her novel Janmabhumi Mero Swadesh. The government granted her the Padma Shri in 2025.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma mourned her loss. He called her an eminent figure who enriched Assamese and Nepali literature. "Her work and ideals would continue to inspire future generations," Sarma said. BGP General Secretary Nanda Kirati Dewan announced a week of mourning.
The Sonitpur district administration confirmed her cremation occurs Wednesday with full state honors. National and state BGP leaders will attend. Her life changed the Gorkha community. She fought for dignity, identity, and constitutional rights.
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