Tatsat Chronicle Magazine

Padma Shri Awardee Social Worker Shakuntala Chowdhary Passes Away

The 102-year-old social worker from Assam was known for taking forward the ideas and principles of Mahatma Gandhi.
February 21, 2022
Social Worker Shakuntala Chowdhary

The Padma Shri awardee from Assam, 102-year-old Gandhian, Shakuntala Choudhary has passed away.

People taking care of her at the Sarania Ashram said that she was undergoing treatment for the last 10 years and passed away on Sunday night due to age-related ailments. Her body has been kept at the ashram for the last darshan. Her last rites will be performed with full state honours at the Nabagriha crematorium on Monday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled her death and said she will be remembered for her firm belief in Gandhian values.

He tweeted, “Shakuntala Choudhary Ji will be remembered for her lifelong efforts to promote Gandhian values. Her noble work at the Sarania Ashram positively impacted many lives. Saddened by her passing away. My thoughts are with her family and countless admirers. Om Shanti.”

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Condoling her death, Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted, “Deeply anguished at the passing away of veteran Gandhian and Padma Shri Shakuntala Choudhary. Her life was devoted to selfless service, truth, simplicity and non-violence at Sarania Ashram, Guwahati where Mahatma Gandhi had stayed in 1946. My prayers for her sadgati Om Shanti!”

State ministers Keshab Mahant and Ranoj Pegu paid floral tributes to Choudhary on behalf of the government at the Sarania Ashram.

Who is Padmashree Shakuntala Choudhary?

Shakuntala Choudhary was a supervisor at Kasturba Ashram in Ulubari, Guwahati and a well-known social worker from Assam. Shakuntala Choudhary was a student of the first batch of Handique Girls’ College. Shakuntala Choudhary celebrated her 100th birthday with a college student at the Assam branch of the Kasturba Gandhi National Memorial Trust. According to a report, Shakuntala Choudhary is the only woman and senior citizen of Assam who has crossed 100 years.

Shakuntala Choudhary and Mahatma Gandhi

Social worker Shakuntala Devi was known for taking forward the ideas and principles of Mahatma Gandhi. Her Gandhian image is famous throughout the state. Mahatma Gandhi visited Assam for the fourth and last time in 1946 when he inaugurated the Assam branch of the Kasturba Gandhi National Memorial Trust and the Gandhian organization Gram Sevika Vidyalaya. Shakuntala Choudhary, a Jamnalal Bajaj Award recipient, was one of the most prominent figures in the Sevika Vidyalaya and the Assam branch of the Kasturba Gandhi National Memorial Trust since 1947.